She did not buy into the blog versus "traditional media" battle. "I think this so-called war or competition between bloggers and the mainstream media is just plain silly. We all need to be supporting one another. I'm fond of many bloggers I read."
Ivins got involved in the civil rights movement while attending Smith College in the early 1960s. She was struck by the realization that she said creates all Southern liberals: "Once you figure out they are lying to you about race, you start to question everything."
I started reading her in college when I was having some of my own questions about race, as I was running the newspaper and writing columns and editorials at Cal Poly Pomona amid the Rodney King/Darryl Gates saga in nearby Los Angeles. I was searching for my voice at the time and finding that self-deprecation. Heck, I called my own column “Butki’s Babbles” and it worked well. Ivins was known to do the same thing from time to time.
While she wrote great copy, there is one book she never wrote much to the regret of me and others: her memoir. When asked about it, she said she had too many other things she wanted to do first. That’s Molly – always finding time for others.
After being diagnosed, she used her celebrity to increase awareness of breast cancer and encouraged women to get mammograms. When she recently grew too weak to write her columns, she dictated the last two.
Most of my heroes — Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, to name the first two that come to mind — are dead. Now Molly has joined them. I can picture those three in heaven with her telling a story that made them all blush and then burst out laughing.
Goodbye, Molly. I’ll miss you. You done good. And no, I ain’t done bragging on you just yet.
I want to close with one more gem of wisdom she once wrote: “Politics is not a picture on the wall or a television sitcom that you can decide you don’t much care for.”
Article comments
1 - Maurice Colgan
Thanks Scott, That's quite an insightful look at Molly Ivens' career. May she rest in peace.
Did she really think most Americans thought Elvis Presley is still alive or did she cutely know by just mentioning Elvis, a journalist's work will appear on webpages all over the World Wide Web :-)
The mighty New York Times is still living down it's early ill-informed Elvis coverage of 1956! When even the Children in the street knew Elvis was a major new talent.
I'm now looking forward to reading more of Molly's writing thanks to your piece. A little Humour goes a long way. It reached us here in Ireland!
2 - Scott Butki
Wow, Ireland! Very cool.
I think she was half-kidding about Elvis.
I'd suggest starting with her first book - that's a great way to get to know and love her.
3 - Matthew Milam
Good article -- nice and uplifiting, especially the part about bloggers.
4 - Terry Mathews
I, too, loved Miss Molly. She was my hero. Thanks for finding the words to describe just how wonderful she was ... we need more people who can still turn a phrase and stand up for the downtrodden. Sail on, Molly. You are missed.
5 - Scott Butki
Thanks, Matthew. Yes I wanted to point out her take on bloggers
Terry, thanks. I appreciate the compliment.