One of the most important writers and intellectuals of America, William F. Buckley, has died. I did not agree with all of his views, but it would be churlish and extreme bad manners not to acknowledge his enormous influence in the fightback against what was, when he started out, the entrenched Big Government views of the US. He was, by all accounts, a most civilised, friendly and good man. As they say, he left the world a better place. He is one of those American intellectual and political figures, like Barry Goldwater, whom I regard, warts and all, as heroes.
May he rest in peace. My condolences to his friends and loved ones.
Here he is sparring with Noam Chomsky.
An extremely great loss. Condolences to his family & to his many friends.
He helped build the intellectual foundation for modern American conservatism. A true giant.
Rest in peace, Mr. Buckley.
So passes on one of the great, for he who could write something as true then as today can only be called great:
So true in 1955, so true now.
May he rest in peace.
I once saw him debate Germaine Greer at the Cambridge Union. At the time I didn’t agree with him on much of anything but he did get me thinking.
His brains, his charm and his courage will all be missed.
I love the way he flashes his eyes mockingly at Chomsky in that debate. Chomsky tries to nit-pick and scores a few well-aimed punches, but the careful way Buckley knocks down the France vs. Greece debate at the end is a straight knockout. Wonderful.
Well, if you liked that, here’s Buckley threatening to smash Chomksy in the god-damn face.
Rest in peace Mr Buckley.