Barbara's Sharebook 

This is from a leaflet given out at the "Women In Black" silent vigil.

Molly Ivins died last week and with her death we - the American people - and the world lost a great treasure.  Molly Ivins told truth to and about power and spent her life teaching many of us about truth and the importance of speaking it out loud, shouting from the rooftops so that no one could say they had not heard.

In his tribute to her Paul Krugman wrote: "Molly never lost sight of two eternal truths: rulers lie, and the times when people are most afraid to challenge authority are also the times when it's most important to do just that".

In her column of January 20, 2006 she spoke to those in power who refuse to do what needs to be done because being re-elected is more important than doing what is right.  She wrote:

"What kind of courage does it take, for mercy's sake? The majority of the American people {55 percent} think the war in Iraq is a mistake and that we should get out. The majority {65 percent} of the American people want single-payer health care and are willing to pay more taxes to get it. The majority {86 percent} of the American people favor raising the minimum wage. The majority of the American people {60 percent} favor repealing Bush's tax cuts, or at least those that go only to the rich. The majority {66 percent} wants to reduce the deficit, not by cutting domestic spending but by reducing Pentagon spending or raising taxes. The majority {77 percent} thinks we should do "whatever it takes" to protect the environment. The majority {87 percent} thinks big oil companies are gouging consumers and would support a windfall profits tax. That is the center, you fools! WHO ARE YOU AFRAID OF?"

On receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Women's Media foundation in 2005, Molly Ivins concluded with:

"We get so afraid, so afraid of some terrible menace, so afraid of crime or communism or drugs or illegal aliens or terrorism that we hurt ourselves. We hurt ourselves. We make ourselves less free. We make ourselves less joyful. We make ourselves less caring because we're afraid. And that, I think, is why it is so important to celebrate courage and why I feel so honored to have been part of this".

Today we stand in silent homage to Molly Ivins.

===========================

Molly Ivins was/is my role model. I am devastated by her loss. She is irreplaceable.   BMutiny T.