William Safire

William Safire died Sunday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/us/28safire.html
I almost always disagreed with him on issues—sometimes less than politely—but I admired and learned from his style. He was of a disappearing breed of commentators who would listen carefully to opposing views, then fully incorporate them in his rebuttal. If his opponent needed more verbal rope to hang himself, Safire was confident enough in his position to play it out for them. I don’t know if it’s out of my own love for a healthy exchange of opposing ideas, or the fact that he reminds me so much of my Dad, but I have always had affection for him.

Safire had the respect for his the other speaker and his audience—as well as the confidence in his own position and ability to communicate it—to truly match wits.  This is such a sad contrast to the excuse for political discourse that dominates today. It seems that success now hinges upon making one’s point within the bounds of what can be printed on a bumper sticker, and repeating it until supporters learn it by rote – a methodology more useful in training a hunting dog than trying to resolve complex societal issues.

I shared, and continue to share Bill Safire’s love of the English language.  Though I learned from opposition to him politically, I learned in harmony with him linguistically.  He knew that—as a living language—English must nourish and maintain the strength of its fundamental structure, even as we encourage it to breathe in the fresh air of new learning.  And, lest there be any doubt, he would not tolerate that word (learning) being used as a noun, with the risk of an ‘s’ being appended to make it plural. There are some basics that cross party lines.

But I digress – as, I dare say, Mr. Safire may have done on occasion.

I will sign off with two quotes attributed to this worthy gentleman. His sense of skepticism and subtle wit are present in each:
 ‘Never assume the obvious is true.’
 ‘Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.’


It is not for me to judge whether the world is a better place because William Safire lived and achieved prominence. But I know my life is richer for witnessing his.