Moderator changed the world
A serious post for a change (a little off topic):
I own a television or two, yet rarely turn the thing on. Probably because at last check there was a mountain of kayaks stacked in front of it, preventing me from viewing it or much less getting close enough to turn it on. On the rare instance that I do watch television, it is usually to catch the ten p.m. newscast or to watch some sort of news documentary. It would be fair to call me a news junkie, I suppose.
Lately, I get most of my news through whatever headlining blip crosses the home page of my internet provider. This week brought news of a death that I found to be quite unbelievable and saddening, NBC’s Meet the Press moderator, Tim Russert. Quite frankly, I found this loss to be more tragic than most any big name person that has passed in recent years, including Princess Diana.
Time after time in this current election season, I touted to my friends the case for someone like Mr. Russert to lead our great country. He struck me as not only a compassionate and intelligent individual, but a fair and balanced man as well. Fair and balanced, isn’t that what we need in this eclectic and diverse melting pot that we call our world? Tim seemed unique if not unorthodox in the fact that never did he let on to any personal biases or beliefs, much less let this interfere with his work. Can we all say the same for ourselves? I know that I cannot always do this. Imagine if we all were to try. Imagine if for one week we all worked to understand and respect another’s viewpoint, even if it is not, and maybe never will be our own.
I believe that Tim Russert rose to the top not because he possessed dashing looks, money, or any of the other qualities we often tend to idolize above the more important things like integrity and character. He got there because he respected the fact that there was always more than one side to every story. Why was Tim honored, respected, and remembered by politicians across party lines, religious icons, and the common man? I believe that this is because he was fair, albeit tough, on his guests no matter Democrat or Republican, Catholic or agnostic, or whatever else.
You never saw Tim pander to a guest for the sake of being politically correct, or to earn brownie points either. Maybe myself and others can try to do a better job in this regard as well. Maybe we will agree to disagree more often for the sake of friendships and fellowship and a more united community and world. Maybe it is time we break from the norm and offer up acceptance, even when it might not be the popular opinion amongst our peers.
Who knows, you as an individual might make a big difference in this world. I know Tim did.