Interview with Cokie Roberts
HFA has been fortunate to have had esteemed journalist Cokie Roberts lend her skills and compassion to our National Bereavement Teleconferences since the beginning. As we approach our 10th teleconference, "Living With Grief: Coping With Public Tragedy," HFA Consultant Kenneth Doka spoke with Ms. Roberts about her role in the teleconference, as well as her insights on the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.
Q: HFA will be presenting its 10th annual National Bereavement Teleconference in April, and you've been with us since the beginning. What drew you to the project, and what has kept you involved year after year?
A: When my sister Barbara was dying, I realized how important it is to deal with death and dying in a realistic fashion, rather than 'pretend it was not happening' or that 'everything was just fine.' I felt strongly that other families needed that as well. I was initially drawn to working with the HFA teleconference because I was drawn to the work of hospice.
I continue because I find that I learn a great deal of new information from each program, and I really enjoy working with the panelists each year.
Q: From a journalist's perspective, would you reflect on the media coverage of the events of September 11, and how that affected the public response?
A: The events of September 11 encompass a wide rubric-the attacks themselves, the "war on terror", etc. In terms of coverage of the events themselves, I think that the media provided excellent coverage, because they helped to answer three critical questions:
--what was actually happening?
--how can the public learn about their loved ones that may have been involved?
--what can we (the general public) do to help and show support? In doing that, the nation was brought together.
To me, the high point of the media coverage was the New York Times' sensitive and insightful Portraits of Grief series. In events of this scope, it is important to remember that individuals died. The series offered a footprint, a signpost that he or she, some very unique person, lived.
Q: You understand very well the importance of ritual in dealing with grief. What rituals or memorials have you seen after September 11 that had a particular impact on you?
A: I've been very interested in following the plans for rebuilding at Ground Zero. I realize that it's valuable real estate, but too bad-to the world, it's now really "sacred ground", especially for the families. Think if we discovered an ancient burial ground on the spot. Now that's what used to be the World Trade Center is - a burial ground. In many cases it's the only place associated with the remains of the individuals who died. Because of the circumstances of my father's death, (my father was lost in an airplane which was never found) I know what it's like not to have a place to go to or a body to bury. I would like to see something built that has a similar effect as the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall-where individual names are carved in stone at a level where visitors can run their fingers over the names. I think that having that tactile experience, actually touching the names, is very important.
Q: You have reported on many public tragedies. Were there elements of those past events that were intensified by the events of September 11? Will your experiences in the aftermath of 9/11, either personally or professionally, affect your response to future tragic events?
A: 9/11 showed people that grief must be included as part of the conversation surrounding tragic events and our responses to them. And I think that the expertise that was shared after 9/11 will really benefit people facing personal losses as well. On the 10th anniversary of HFA's teleconference, I think there is room to rejoice a little bit, in the sense that the level of knowledge about grief has really grown, and that the teleconference has contributed to that.
Cokie Roberts is well known for her work as anchor on This Week With Cokie Roberts and Sam Donaldson, and is the Chief Congressional Analyst for ABC News. She is also heard as national correspondent for National Public Radio.
