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Wednesday, 28 February 2007 15:59 |
| | David Forbes |
Last week, I decided to take some time to devote to the works of two truly original writers who have died recently. Last weekís column was dedicated to anarchist novelist and futurist Robert Anton Wilson.
This weekís column is dedicated to Molly Ivins, another fearlessly original writer whose long battle with breast cancer ended on Jan. 31 at the age of 62.
While much in their writing styles and pursuits could not have been more different, Ivins, like Wilson, made a career out of roasting sacred cows. She also had fun doing it.
She
used to throw legendary parties at her Texas home, and her old
colleagues at the Texas Observer magazine later recalled that she used
her multitude of journalistic and literary awards as trivets for the
dishes at those bashes. She would quip that she had to put them to some
practical use.
Personally, I can say that Ivinsí columns were a major influence from a
young age ñ and an important part of what inspired me to become a
journalist. She showed that serious topics can be tackled with humor
and that a thirst for justice can go hand in hand with rigorous
journalism.
She will be missed, but the wonderful thing about writers is that their words live on.
ìLook out! Theyíre about to smack you around again!î
The above was how Molly Ivins recommended journalists start out any story involving the government.
A Southern liberal unrepentant about both her heritage and politics and
an old school journalist (in the best possible way), Ivinsí column
appeared in papers across the country for decades. Her last dispatch
was dated Jan. 5. Reports from friends and colleagues indicate that she
began dictating her columns after the pain from her cancer became too
much. She literally never gave up.
The book to start with is ìMolly Ivins Canít Say That, Can She?î
(Vintage, 304 pp. $13.00), a collection of her essays from the ë80s and
early ë90s that contains some of her best work.
Thereís a great essay on how Ann Richardsí surprising ascendance to
governor of Texas that remains a great story as well as revealing where
women actually stand in politics. She shares memories of her early
years in journalism. To top it all off, she tears into Ronald Reagan,
the entire Bush family and anyone else that comes her way.
A heartbreaking piece on a visit to the Vietnam War Memorial remains one of the most powerful pieces of writing Iíve ever read.
Also amazing for a book focusing on events over a decade ago, the
pieces donít seem dated at all, mostly because Ivinsí storytelling is
wise and witty enough to be timeless.
She lost none of her fearlessness, later books, such as ìYou Got to
Dance With Them What Brung You,î a condemnation of the role of money in
politics, famously characterized Bill Clinton as ìweaker than
bus-station chili.î When George W. Bush began to run for (and later
won) the presidency, she paired with journalist Lou Dubose to pen
ìShrubî and later, ìBushwhacked,î both biting criticisms. She even
popularized the now-common ìDubyaî nickname.
Her columns are available from a variety of sources, though thereís
sadly no one, organized archive. But type ìMolly Ivinsî into a search
engine and youíll find plenty. Many of them remain wonderful no matter
the year they were published.
She stepped on a lot of toes, without apology, during her long career.
It is telling that when she died, even her longtime targets and
political foes (Bush included) felt compelled to pay their respects.
Her attitude towards all of this is summed up in a quote from an
interview she gave as she fought with cancer in her final years:
ìSo keep fightiní for freedom and justice, beloveds, but donít you
forget to have fun doiní it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be
outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that
freedom can produce. And when you get through kickiní ass and
celebratiní the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who
come after how much fun it was.î
ï
David Forbes, who writes book reviews and covers news for the Daily Planet, may be contacted at marauderAVL-at-hotmail.com.
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