Peter Jennings Succumbs To Lung Cancer

It is with utmost sadness that we received the news late last evening that Peter Jennings of ABC News "World News Tonight," passed away losing his two year battle with lung cancer.In my opinion, if you were to google the words "honesty" or "integrity" you should find Peter's photo. The loss of Peter Jennings completes the last of the truly honest anchors who actually took seriously the fact they were invited by US into OUR homes each night, and treated the viewer with respect and dignity because of that. I will always be proud to think of him as a fellow Canadian. Even though he became an American citizen he never did totally renounce his Canadian citizenship, and claimed "dual-citizenship" status. As he often explained, he made that decision for family reasons, and also because he truly loved the United States. Even though he loudly professed this love of the country, the wingnuts of the right just had to reply with their usual sarcasm. As AP reported today When Jennings spoke at the dedication of a museum celebrating the U.S. Constitution in 2003, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia told him, "not bad for a Canadian." I won't soil his reputation by quoting some of the more disgusting comments about this fine, upstanding gentleman that can be found on some of the right-leaning blogs. Suffice it to say they are their usual hypocritical and ignorant selves. Indeed, some also criticized him as a pretty face unfit for the promotion. Using the Canadian pronunciations for some words and once misidentifying the Marine Corps' anthem as "Anchors Aweigh" didn't help his reputation. Gee I wonder how many of them can name the "official" title of the anthem? As for pronunciations, I would simply say to them listen to the way your own President uses the English language. Colleagues had this to say about Peter ABC News President David Westin said late Sunday. "Peter has been our colleague, our friend, and our leader in so many ways. None of us will be the same without him". Describing his own style of news reporting, he had this to say "There are a lot of people who think our job is to reassure the public every night that their home, their community and their nation is safe," he told author Jeff Alan. "I don't subscribe to that at all. I subscribe to leaving people with essentially 'sorry it's a cliche' a rough draft of history. Some days it's reassuring, some days it's absolutely destructive." Imagine that, a news broadcaster letting the viewer form their own opinion of a report. It seems to me that maybe the Miller, Limbaugh and Hannity types in the news business should take some lessons from Peter's style, instead of force-feeding the Administrations' lies to their audience. Tom Bettag, who competed against Mr. Jennings as executive producer of the "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" and later worked with Mr. Jennings as a colleague as executive producer of "Nightline", said "He established a level of trust with the viewer that would be difficult for anyone else to match going forward." There you have it my friends, the key word that best describes his relationship with his viewers.....TRUST. I would urge you to visit The New York Times to read a comprehensive and well written article of Peter's history. Rest in wonderful peacefulness Peter you will be sadly missed. Don't Grieve for me for now I'm free, I'm following the path God has laid you see. I took His hand when I heard Him call, I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day, To laugh, to love, to work, to play. Tasks left undone must stay that way, I found that peace at the close of day. If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joys. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Oh, yes, these things I too will miss. Be not burdened with times of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life's been full, I've savored much, Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, Don't lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your hearts and peace to thee, God wanted me now, He set me free. **Please note, I have place a memorial of Peter in the sidebar where is will remain for the next week to show my personal respect for him.**