William F. Buckley Jr., RIP
February 28th, 2008What a life he led.
. . . When I was in junior high school I pulled a stack of National Review magazines out of the discard bin at my school’s library. I had no idea what they were but took them home and read them. I became a WFB devotee, watching Firing Line on PBS on Friday nights, reading his books and columns, even affecting at times some of his odd mannerisms, accent and stylistic traits (in retrospect, ill-advised for kid going to a public junior high school in Alabama!).
My politics have swung over the years from the far right to the far left and now settled somewhere in the middle (socially liberal, economically conservative), but even if I no longer subscribe to the National Review I owe some kind of deb to WFB, Jr. His wit, generosity of spirit, love of language and tremendous élan helped lift my eyes beyond the school where I first found those magazines.
He wrote so many warm obits; I hope others now rise to the occasion.
April 15th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Walter,
Thought about you (happily) – and junior high (less so) – when Mr. Buckley died. Hope you are well and enjoying the Northwest.
Ellen
November 21st, 2008 at 12:30 am
He will be in your heart for ever!