July 24th, 2008
Tony Snow’s funeral and life offers a poignant moment for reflection. Snow was a news commentator and past press spokesperson for President Bush. He lost his battle with cancer at the age of 53. He was a good guy.
Snow received a Freedom of Speech Award from the Media Institute in October, 2007. Here’s an excerpt from that speech.
“The First Amendment serves as the foundation for the enterprise, and supports reporters in their quest for truth–or at least for serviceable facts that in time might lead them toward some reasonable facsimile of truth. We also hear the First Amendment is under siege. I think that’s true. I don’t believe anyone here would disagree with the proposition that the quality of public discourse isn’t what it once was…political rhetoric has turned nasty, childish, and very personal on Capitol Hill, and Americans are sick of it.”
Americans are just “sick of it.” It may be bickering and self serving politicians who have ignored Americans voices over the past 40 years. Think about it..the oil crisis of the 1970’s should have been a wake up call; not a chance..today we face $5-7 gasoline. Merger mania, acquisitions, and critical mass were the catch phrases and strategies of the past which leaves us with an impending banking crisis, leadership in the U.S auto industry standing flat footed and unattractive balance sheets. Social security is a mess and health care is but a dream for so many.
Tony Snow was an honest, kind and humble guy. He got it. His words were an expression of a failing press. They represent a pattern of arrogance and self fishness within politics and too many businesses.
His words seem to hit the mark in the same way people feel communications are in many workplaces today. More than 46% of people in our online survey felt “lack of honest communications in the workplace..and the inability to express how you feel” .
Honest communications seems is a child of The First Amendment. Perhaps courage, humility and clarity are siblings in the same family. Tony Snow was a gift of honesty, courage and clarity.