As most of you may have already heard, Tim Russert passed away on June 13th. If you get a chance to watch the MSNBC special or NBC this morning, you should do it. I guarantee you will walk away a different person. It’s not just about a newsman. It’s about the idea of quality, the commitment to excellence, and the great can-do optimism that made this country great.

The internet is piling up with blog and news entries about this, so there’s really no need to repeat too much here. Predictably, there are bloggers who shrug and go “big deal, he was just a newsman, what’s the fuss all about?”

It’s about so much more than just a newsman.

Russert’s story and life was one of enthusiasm, joy, hard work and a belief that the American viewer deserved more than mere punditry. He was also respected for being well-prepared, thoroughly researching the politicians who come to sit on the Meet The Press hot seat, and going medieval on their seats when they try to worm their way out of accountability. I can’t count how many times reporters and anchormen and women have backed down when a politician refuses to provide an answer that every American has a right to know.

One doesn’t really appreciate this until “journalism” from other countries are inspected. There are places where news is doctored to such a degree that no locals even treat it as truth. My country of birth, for example, has government -to this day – who can conveniently arrange for a journalist with Russert’s persistence to disappear overnight. Even though I have lived in the US for thirty years, not a day goes by when I don’t appreciate the freedom of speech.

I know people in the armed forces are fond of saying “freedom isn’t free.” Though the cost of freedom is debatable, what Russert did was to make that earned freedom worthwhile. Not a breath was squandered when accountability was demanded. I just hope the new generation of journalists don’t get inspired by the loud, shouting FOX-News brand of critical inquiry.

What is quite endearing about Russert on this special day, was his love of life, work, and family. Look at any of the pictures of him outside the shots from Meet The Press. The fellow had the biggest, most optimistic smile that I love. It was a smile loaded with promises and the great Kerouac American spirit. He had also written a book about his close relationship with his dad, Big Russ & Me. For a man who was not only all about family, but dedicated himself to sharing the joyful wonder of his Father-Son relationship, it’s heartbreaking that he should go two days before Father’s Day. Just…sigh.

I once asked my first art teacher what decade he thought was the greatest in American history. His answer would come to play a big role in who I am today: “The 50s saw America at the height of the nation. The GI Bill had produced the highest percentage of college-educated people in the population, war was behind us, the technology left over from wartime was producing products with the highest quality the country had ever seen. The future looked bright and full of possibilities and companies were committed to excellence.”

It’s no surprise Tim Russert was born in the beginning of the 50s.