Wednesday, February 27, 2008
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William F. Buckley, Jr., RIP
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Posted by:
Mary Katharine Ham at
1:05 PM
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God rest his soul.
He was a fascinating man, a prolific writer, a powerful leader, and a prescient thinker. It's a sad day for the conservative movement, but a day also to celebrate all that Mr. Buckley's remarkable life made possible for the rest of us.
His optimism and determination helped bring conservative ideas from down in the boondocks of American political thought right up Pennsylvania Ave. to the White House, and led several generations of conservative Americans to make the same political journey, claim their conservatism and the courage to "stand athwart," as he had done before them.
His publisher's note from the first issue of National Review prefaces that rise of conservatism and the pride that made it possible, declaring conservatives "nonconformist" and the magazine of conservative opinion the "hottest thing in town." How's that for the audacity of hope?
Thank you for everything, Mr. Buckley.
Check in with National Review for more, all day long.
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Tho the great one be gone his thoughts stand alone.
"Whatever evolves was first, created" - Jason Leverette, Patriot |
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Back in the '50's, I was a high school kid and early in those years while about 14-15, I read Bill's God and Man at Yale. It changed my political life for with that book, I became a conservative and am now 69 yrs. old. I began writing letters to National Review and behold, I got answers and even won a silly contest with Buckley mocking my answers. It was fun and I subsribed for years . I still have my early copies. He will be missed like no other intellectual missionary. I cannot think of one liberal that will be missed but Bill was another whole category of influence. |
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In my conservative youth, Buckley was the intellectual powerhouse behind conservative thought. He was able to articulate conservative ideals without the religious and social values dogma that has diluted the conservative message today. He and Goldwater were the two conservative giants of their era. Today's conservatives are pale imitations. RIP Mr. Buckley. |
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He was a conservative with alot of class & that's why I always liked him. He was certainly no hate monger as we see alot today. |
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William F. Buckley brought a keen intellect, hilarious posturing, and erudite repartee into
the realm of public discourse. He enlivened minds. He will be sorely missed by thinkers of all political stripes.
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I am reminded of one thing I thought about when Ronald Reagan passed away recently. Every time a seminal figure in our socio-political landscape passes, we seem to a)rediscover what made them famous, b)re-live why we love or hate the person, and c) do our best to further the mythical stature of him or her.
Too bad it takes a man (or woman) dying for us to discover what they did and learn of their imprint in the fabric of Americana. Guilty am I as well of my rant. I barely knew of him,... but my curiousy has awakened. Pity it took me so long.
http://www.truthpain.blogspot.com |
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Raised in a Democratic household--old style "yellow dog democrats"--liberal youth at university until I ran into the writings of Bill Buckley--what an enlightenment! I can thank him for bringing me to my senses. Now I cannot see what the liberals use for reasoning to save my life. There is no reason/ deductive logic, or objectivity in their dogma--feels good, sounds good, earthly entitlements, no personal responsibility, screw science/history/the facts, full steam ahead and let's pass another law to cover it. |
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A great voice for the conservative movement has passed. I am truly saddened. I still enjoy occasionally reading some of his old essays. Few have the ability to elucidate so well.
He will surely be missed but perhaps his enduring contribution is the inspiration he provided to those who now follow in his footsteps -- people like MKH.
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The Council on Foreign Relations has lost one of its more eloquent voices. |
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