Away from the office, what people will remember most about Tony is what a decent man he was. When I heard the news this morning, I thought about something he wrote back in 1998, when Brit Hume's son Sandy died. Like everyone else, Tony was badly shaken; why had such an awful thing happened? A few days later, he wrote:
The day I heard of his death, I raced home and hugged my wife and kids with a ferocity that startled them. Since then, I have clung to them a little tighter, lingered with them a little longer, relished their company a bit more. Suddenly, jarringly, I came to understand: Loved ones are fragile, precious gifts from God. Tragedy, villainy or caprice someday may snatch them away.
From Wolfstar:
Search long enough and you will find posts on FR that call Tony Snow a "RINO." The term, and others like CINO, are thrown around so much here (and elsewhere) that it has ceased to have any substantive meaning. Tony Snow was one of the kindest, least mean-spirited public people of our era in politics. He could STRONGLY disagree with people from across the political spectrum, but he always did so without invective and vitriol.
If we really want to honor the memory of Tony Snow, THE one thing we should all do is follow this particular example he set. We need to stop turning invective and vitriol on each other and on political figures from our side of the aisle, even when we disagree with them strongly on one or more matters of policy.
We need to have greater appreciation for our many areas of agreement, and learn to have perspective about our few areas of disagreement. We are, after all, individuals. Our individual opinions, likes and dislikes are formed out of that mysterious God-given mix of genetics, personality, and upbringing which molds each of us into unique beings.
Furthermore, as Americans, we are blessed to be citizens of a nation founded and built on the supreme importance of individuality. Our Constitution was the first national, formal document in all of human history to celebrate and protect the rights of the common individual over the rights of the state.
I honor Tony Snow's memory by calling on all Republicans and Conservatives to be more like him in the ways we behave toward each other. Agree or disagree, sure. Express your opinions strongly. But let's stop turning on each other in the harsh, mean, vindictive ways we see daily on FR posts.
Great post Wolf. There are plenty of Dems that need their butts kicked no need in picking on our own.
Great post, Wolfstar. Thank you.
Amen he was a great example