Tim Russert - Martyr

Throughout history, there have been men and women who died for a larger cause. Martyrs. Heroes. Legends. The deaths of these people often united a religion, or a movement, or a country to reach greater heights than it could ever have achieved with that person on earth. The death of one’s leader can so unite a group that all former differences are put aside in sadness, memoriam, celebration, and soon after, triumph for said cause. There has been much written recently about the life and death of Tim Russert. Tim Russert would be the first to tell you that he wasn’t fronting any cause; that he was simply the country’s moderator and nothing more. But in the wake of his death, in talking with many friends and family members both Democrat and Republican, it is clear that Mr. Russert has united us all, just in time for an election.

Elections were his specialty, his busy season, his bread and butter. In this, a very important American election, it seems safe to assume that what Mr. Russert would have wanted more than anything is for this election to be a civil, intelligent, and open conversation about the issues most important to the American people. Last weekend I was a part of the most civil, intelligent and open political conversation in the history of my family. Generally we may not agree on much, but we could all agree that a great voice was lost. A voice of the people and for the people. And when our conversation shifted from Mr. Russert to politics at large, I found that there was a polite, respectful tone to each of our positions. We debated rather than argued. We respected each others’ opinions. We had intelligent and worthwhile conversation.

On the day of Mr. Russert’s death I spoke with friends - some liberals, some conservatives - who were quick to point out that they don’t usually feel much for the death of a celebrity or public persona, but they felt sad today. “A good man.” “An honest broadcaster.” “One of the last true journalists.” These are things I heard from people who argue on a daily basis. These were words written because in Mr. Russert they saw their father, their favorite teacher, their neighbor, and somewhat strangely for a television personality, their friend.

With his middle-class roots and down to earth style, Tim Russert reminded us of home. Like most martyrs, he came from little and rose to lots. Like most martyrs he was important in life. And like most martyrs he will be essential in death. Essential for the continued inspiration of those who watched him work for the last two decades and essential for future students to watch in political science classes in colleges and universities across the country. And while he may not have been a martyr for Republicans or a martyr for Democrats or a martyr for Christianity or Judism or capitalism or any one cause over another, he is indeed a martyr. Tim Russert is a martyr for a past time. A time when Lincoln and Douglas debated fiercely seven times in one year, yet remained respectful and eloquent. Or a time in the not so distant past when geniality in politics was not seen as weakness or honesty as bad strategy.

Mr. Russert may not be a martyr in the traditional sense of the word, but his death has united all of us in at least the notion that a great man has been lost. We mourned, memorialized, celebrated. And now we can hopefully triumph in the notion that politics shouldn’t be about slander, sound bytes, or slinging mud, but rather about honesty, transparency and intellectual discourse. I'd say it's the least we can do for the last great leader of objective journalism.

Alo?