How to Talk About The Dead
June 16th, 2008
I have gotten myself in hot water over this before, but I still think it an important enough topic to risk more flames.
Tim Russert’s death is a tragedy. Anytime that young is taken from his friends and family, that is an undeniable tragedy. And, from all accounts, on a personal level, Russert was apparently a kind, polite, and generous man. The testimonials and eulogies all speak to that. Bu they all say something that is not true: he was a journalist other journalists should aspire to emulate. We can go through the record if you would like, but it is really secondary to the point. Just for he sake of argument, accept my notion that Russert was poor at his job. Saying that, though, seems to anger some people. I have been told that such criticisms are not appropriate. But I don’t see why not, for people who lived a public life, criticism of that public life should be out of bounds.*
The effect a person had on the public is, to me, an essential topic of discussion. It is important to understand public figures, the successes they had and the failures they suffered in order to help understand what is good and bad for the public. The good and the bad have to be discussed at a time when the pub;lic is payoing attention. You don’t want the lasting impression of Russert’s professional life to be one of success. If it is, then you create a situation in which young reporters and the public at large are convinced that “gotcha” questioning and holding every conversation unless specified otherwise off the record are high journalistic standards. If the criticism are forced to the side for the length of the public discussion of a man;s public life, then the criticism are not heard and misinformation is allowed to be presented as the truth. That is not good for the public at large.
I understand the desire to be nice to the recently passed, for the sake of their grieving friends and family if nothing else. But I don’t see why that consideration is more important than a respectful attempt to get at the truth of a person’s public life.
*I should say here that I am not talking about wakes or funerals or what is said or done there. I am not on the right wing — I do not have a set of politically correct guidelines for what a wake/memorial/funeral should look like. Those events are for the loved ones of the deceased, they can celebrate the deceased’s life in anyway they fit and God damn anyone who would take that comfort away from grieving people.
Categories: Culture, General | 23 Comments
