Memorials are a time to look back on the life of the deceased, to mourn the passing and to celebrate memories and to come together, bound by our common affection for the person being memorialized. They're also a time to reflect on how a person's life has influenced ours, and at a ceremony remembering Tim Russert yesterday at the Kennedy Center, friends and family recalled his life and his impact. A theme that ran through it was Russert's patriotism, and as his son Luke poignantly said of his dad, "His spirit lives on in everyone who loves their country."
In an interview with Sen. Kerry after the service, Chris Matthews broached the subject of patriotism and how the right has attempted to define it in partisan terms. Senator Kerry described patriotism in a way he has many times in the past, one that seeks to include all people who love their country, despite the differences in how that patriotism manifests itself.
"I think patriotism is not defined always by how much you boast about your patriotism. It's about how you live your life about your country and put it into the policies that you care about. Telling the truth is patriotic. Holding your country accountable is patriotic. There are lots of ways to be a patriot, and I think people need to understand that."
Tim Russert understood. I think most people understand it, deep down. But, as the Senator questioned, will the lessons be integrated into the behavior? The challenge for whoever takes the torch from Mr. Russert will be to not only understand the true meaning of patriotism, but to find a way to communicate it.
Video Credit: MSNBC
