Wednesday, January 31, 2007

R.I.P. Molly Ivins

Fuck, Fuck, FUCK. First Barbara Seranella and now this.

It's very possible I wouldn't be writing at all if it weren't for Molly Ivins. Her collection of columns entitled Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? was a huge influence on the pieces that eventually led me to writing my own newspaper column, which led to some well-meaning soul saying "you oughta write a novel," and so on. Molly had a true gift for skewering the idiots in power with a stiletto wit, driven by a passion that punched right through the blather and bullshit.

Her last column closed with this call to arms, no doubt written with a full appreciation that her time was drawing near:

We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous.

Yes'm.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

She was a great, great writer. I'll miss her.

David Terrenoire said...

I loved Molly Ivins. She had that no bullshit way about her that is, sadly, fast becoming alien to our public nature.

And now I know I can also thank her for your books and this blog.

I'd say you're adding to her legacy, Dusty, and good on you.