Meet reporter Marty Schladen. Who?

Thought for the day

Until yesterday, I had never heard of reporter Marty Schladen.  But after reading his moving reaction to Thursday's ceremonies at Normandy -- and the need for today's journalists to match the courage of those who fought on D-Day -- I don't think I will ever forget his name.  Neither should journalism programs at various universities like USC, Northwestern or Miami.

Here's what Schladen wrote in the Ohio Capitol Journal.  I hope he wins a Pulitzer for this column.

On this 80th anniversary of D-Day, it's super important to remember that they risked all and gave all for democracy. After the 2020 election and around J6, I watched the opening scene of "Saving Private Ryan" over and over. Those guys were jumping off of Higgins boats and into pre-sighted machine-gun fire from German soldiers in concrete bunkers who were just waiting for them. 

They were jumping out of planes or flying gliders into hostile fire in the dead of night. I can't conceive of the guts it took to do that. But it's what those soldiers were fighting for that made them heroes. They were risking all to stop a murderous dictator who disdained the entire concept of democracy; who was repelled at the idea of sharing power with anyone — much less the bunch of nobodies who made up German society. 

At bottom, that's what democracy is, sharing power in pursuit of the public interest. And the way that it is done is through voting. Making voting accessible and representative and ensuring that electoral outcomes count when power is exercised. 

The extent to which these principles have been observed has ebbed and flowed over the years. But for the first time in 2020, a sitting president and his followers tried to throw out the entire system, to reject the outcome of a national election just because they didn't like it.

Earlier presidents would be appalled. One reason Washington hung it up when he did was he was terrified of dying in office and being unable to oversee the peaceful transition of power. Lincoln never hesitated to hold an election at the height of the Civil War and contemplated the strong possibility he would lose. 

But now we have members of a major political movement — including the current speaker of the House — who refuse publicly to accept the clear outcome of a presidential election. Through the press and my own conversations, I know that many, if not most, of these people know better. But they also know that to say so publicly will cost them personally. So they don't. 

Think about that this D-Day. We're honoring people for risking and giving their lives and suffering grievous injury for something that this crowd won't pass up a few bucks and a little fame for. Our ancestors risked all — gave all — for a transcendent gift that too many of our leaders are happy to crap all over and possibly destroy so long as they get something out of it.  

I'm a reporter, but I don't have to be neutral about democracy. In fact, all of us in the press have a responsibility to fight in our way for democracy. Especially on D-Day, none of us should be neutral about this if we want to be patriots and truly honor these heroes.

-DF