I wish I was better read or more well versed with the greatest authors so I could find some profound quote on death. Over the last few weeks, there seems to have been a number of "deaths" among "celebrities" in this world. Ed McMahon was followed by Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, the Oxy Clean guy (Billy Mays, a famous NFL quarterback was murdered (McNair), and now Walter Cronkite.
So much death... and all at in a condensed amount of time. This on top of 40 years ago today they landed on the moon, the economic crisis, the move toward socialized health care with a trillion dollar price tag to do it. The world is changing.
A former manager once told me that deaths of "good" people occurs when their energy and spirit are needed in the world to revitalize the earth's spirit and inject good back into the world. Many of these deaths have done that. Farrah's fight with Cancer brought people together. Jackson's dancing and music made us feel good and remind us to have fun. Billy Mays that life is too short and you have approach life with energy and gusto. McNair, that violence is sometimes unexpected and we all have to do our part to make the world a better place by living according to our highest morals. And now Cronkite.
I hope that Cronkite's death rejuvenates the field of journalism. Brings people back to the industry to provide real researched reporting, with less opinion and more fact. I hope it encourages reporters to again ask the hard questions whether they "support" a person or not, and actually especially if they support him or her. Ask those direct questions, because in this age of information overload, we need direct clear answers. We need someone who will not be afraid of looking bad by asking Obama why he hasn't written a bill to propose instead leaving it up to congress to do ALL the work. We need someone who is going to challenge the Republican party asking specific members WHY they are not for equal right in recognizing families differ and a "domestic" partner should be afforded the same right, and recognizing that will "rebuild" a home foundation with TWO parents because it will be allowed and accepted.
Someone who is going to challenge Senate committees, lobbyists and businessman to focus on a solution and do the research to bring to light all the "deals" that happen that aren't in the best interest of "the people." Who are aware of, inspire, and even demand that those with money and power are socially responsible and hold themselves to a higher ethical standard.
Walter Cronkite, I hope that your spirit goes out and brings honesty, integrity, curiosity, and a renewed vigor to seek out the truth in the field of Journalism.
