When a soldier leaves his foxhole, crawls through enemy gunfire and drags a wounded buddy to safety, I call that courage. When Rosa Parks faced jail rather than give up her seat and move to the back of the bus, that took courage, too.

But on Capitol Hill courage means something else. The congressional newspaper, Roll Call, recently called members of Congress "courageous" for suggesting another pay raise. Other pundits call politicians courageous who break their pledge about stepping down from power.

Apparently, the word "courage" in Washington means the bravery to break your word and the courage to cater to your own personal benefits.

Real courage means doing right, even when it costs you. You won't find enough courage like that in Congress. The famous British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once said: "You will find as you grow older that courage is the rarest of all qualities to be found in public life."

A politician thinks of the next election and a statesman the next generation. The underlying difference is courage. Courage to stand up for beliefs. Courage to sacrifice momentary popularity and selfish benefit.

But a few statesmen still serve in Congress. Representative Matt Salmon from Arizona won 64 percent of the vote last November, but he promised to serve only three terms and he's keeping his word. He's glad because it allows him to serve the people of his district without the temptations that torment career politicians. Matt Salmon said, "Being safe never changed the course of American politics."

Another term limits supporter, President Andrew Jackson once said, "One man with courage makes a majority." Of course, he meant real courage.

U.S. Term Limits produces Common Sense, a unique perspective on the latest insanity from Washington. Paul Jacob's 3 weekly commentaries can be heard on 57 radio stations in 34 states, and are available FREE by e-mail, fax or mail. E-mail: Commonsense@ustermlimits.org call: (800) 733-6440 fax: (202) 463-3210 write: Common Sense/U.S. Term Limits/1125 - 15th Street, NW/Suite 501/Washington, DC 20005. Audiotapes are available for a donation.

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