To all of the Fathers out reading this, I hope you had a great Father's Day. I did offer this wish at the close of Friday morning's entry, but I want to offer it up again.
A couple of years ago, I was told by a man that I met in the studios in Knoxville, that I should not just tell my dad what I thought of him, but I should write and mail a letter to him. I haven't done that. I should and feel safe in writing it here because with Mom in Kansas City, Dad will not be reading this...though someone may tell him what I have to say.
Saturday morning, I was watching the Fox News Channel coverage of the Shuttle landing at Cape Canaveral when I remembered when the first Space Shuttle landing took place back in 1981. That one was out at Edwards Air Force Base in California. I didn't see it on TV. I wanted to, but for some reason I was in the van with Dad. I don't know where we were coming from, but I do know that we were in Waterford, Wisconsin, on our way home. I heard it on the radio and Dad put on a bit of a show for me while he was driving. It is something that I will never ever forget. And it really was the first time that I came to understand the power of radio and appreciate the term I learned much later, theater of the mind.
That is just one thing that I will always be thankful to my dad for.
As a father myself, I don't know where I really rank. And I don't think I will until I see the results of the work being done by both of us as parents. But, I think the job of a father is one that is never done.
I did call Dad yesterday and we talked for quite awhile. Not about anything special, just keeping up on things.
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Watched "Meet The Press" yesterday morning. A nice tribute to Tim Russert, sad combined with happy and full of tears and laughter. Kathy and I talked Friday night about what they would do on Sunday. I predicted a tribute show with Tom Brokaw choking back tears throughout.
I was correct.
I also saw the last half hour of "Fox News Sunday" and I think the other networks did a decent job showing respect for Mr. Russert. ABC had a bunch of stuff on their website and George Stephanopoulous offered up his comment on his show. Bob Schieffer was on both MSNBC and Fox News Channel praising his friend. He said that scooping Russert was like hitting a home run off the best pitcher in the league. I think "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace made a great comment when he said that Tim Russert, "Beat me like a drum every Sunday" but went on to say what great friends they were.
But Brit Hume shared some great advice he got from Tim Russert following his son Sandy's death about ten years ago. "Don't focus on the time you didn't have with him, but remember the good times that you did have."
Now that is some great advice.
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Let me close by adding this. I will not be phony. I will not be changing what I do and how I do it to try and become the next Tim Russert.
I can't. I won't pretend to do so.
I will continue to be fair and I will continue to be opinionated. Sorry, that is who I am.
But fairness is the most important thing. And by being open with my views, that shows any bias that exists and should also show how hard I try to be fair and openminded despite my previously held opinions.
What makes this OK and different from most in the mainstream media? They try to hide and deny a bias. I do not.
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Have a great week. Comment as you see fit. Please take a look at the comments from late Friday (updated on Saturday) regarding Tim Russert.
