"While the World Trade Center was still smouldering, Sontag described the terrorists as "brave". She deserves no tribute." Nate, Salt Lake City, USA
|
|
Wish I'd said that. |
Posted on 12/28/2004 3:56:56 PM PST by yankeedame
Last Updated: Tuesday, 28 December, 2004, 23:46 GMT
Susan Sontag dies: Your tributes
Susan Sontag, the celebrated American author, has died aged 71.
Her work included the best selling historical novel The Volcano Lover and the essays On Photography and Illness as Metaphor.
The feminist writer died in New York after suffering from leukaemia for some time.
Send us your memories of Susan Sontag using the form on the right.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Derrida and Sontag, that's too big of a loss for one year. And I am sad to say, I don't see a hopeful new generation to replace such geniuses... " Karoly Aliotti, New York, NY
"She tried so hard, her effort was comparable to her existence... She will be missed. We should all be fortunate to be alive today with her words in our minds, to use them and not take them for granted." Allan W-H, New York, USA
"She will be greatly missed. I agree with Karoly. The loss of Derrida and Sontag within a few months has left a yawning vacuum which looks like it won't be filled. The "intellectuals" of the 21st Century are more focused on building search engines than writing books. Sad." Nadeem Azam, London, UK
"While the World Trade Center was still smouldering, Sontag described the terrorists as "brave". She deserves no tribute." Nate, Salt Lake City, USA
"I am devastated. Susan Sontag was a heroine to me. I've read every book she's written except for The Benefactor, and it's in the queue. I wish I could have met her, and talked to her about things like punk rock, and needing an erotics of art." Josh Humphries, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
"My prayers and thoughts are with her friends and family, but it must be said that Sontag was one of those people who could be relied on to say something completely irrelevant - when it was decipherable - and inconsequential about weighty matters. She spoke loudly into the echo chamber of urban/coastal/Euro pseuds who have not had an important and good idea for the better part of a century - she was the mouthpiece of the western urban consensus. ZZZZZ. Nevertheless, RIP." Jason Boatright, Austin, Texas
"I remember living in Beirut at the American College at the time that Susan went to Bosnia to stage Waiting for Godot at a local theatre. I was so inspired that I began production for Romeo and Juliet at the community theatre in the city. She reminded me that art really can help to soften some of the harsh cruelty humans get subjected to during civil war." Ali Beydoun, Washington, D.C, USA
"Susan Sontag has been for me an aesthetic heroine, and an ethical model, although I have not always agreed with her. Her death came much too soon and has silenced one of the most fertile minds of our times. She could never have fathomed her far-reaching influence. There is no one who can take up the standard she has dropped." Karen Cronick, San Antonio, Venezuela
"She is a reminder to all humanity that if one learns to think like a human being, no cultural propaganda will ever work. I salute her courage, compassion, and wisdom. I wish education systems of the world could create conditions which will help us become human. Truth not propaganda. Books not bombs. " Muhammad, New York
"Thus ends another long-suffering life of hatred of America. It is too bad she could not have been happy." Bob Kaufman, Miami, Florida, USA
"As a young Bosnian activist, her defence of human rights in the Balkans and across the world will always last in my memory as an inspiration. The world has lost a great individual." Samir Husika, St.Catharine's, Canada
"Ms Sontag visited our writers' workshops at Columbia University's School of the Arts in 1981 and held informal court for four days running. How informal? Well, I remember her negotiating an especially sloppy egg salad sandwich while explaining that for light reading at night she enjoyed a little Wittgenstein. She apologised for this habit's apparent pretentiousness, but the apology was unnecessary; the egg salad spilling over her fingers had already handled it." Tim Tomlinson, New York City, USA
"The sublime intensity of Sontag's description on photography will keep influencing photographers around the world. The written word is a death defeater." Sofia DePiu, UK
"Stateside, Sontag made it into even the most remote home via the public broadcasting airwaves. Never encountering an intellectual in the flesh, I was intrigued. She started my mind on a journey that is still playing out. I was sad to hear about her death." John H, Chicago (via Houston, TX) USA
"A great scholar with a wide-ranging intellect. A person whose honesty, acumen and forthrightness challenged and sometimes offended the culturally backward sensibilities of many Americans. But for others, she will be sorely missed." Ken, New York
" "On Photography" made me realize quite late in life that there was a whole world of thought that I knew almost nothing about. The realisation of my ignorance inspired me to complete my university degree in 2001 at the age of 48. Thank you Susan Sontag, wherever your spirit may now be." Patrick Fitzgerald, Sacramento, CA - USA
"ne of the finest thinkers, not only in the USA but in the world. A truly free mind accepting no outside influence that might take her away from her chosen path. Her work with the people of Sarajevo with war raging all around her, remains an example of tremendous personal courage. She didn't have to be there, she chose to help those poor, suffering people in their time of need. A brilliant mind, a great human being, an extraordinary writer. I am still reeling under the shock of her death." Clarissa Henry, Vienna, Austria
"It is a great loss to humanity that this lucid and integrative thinker is gone. I consider her On Photography to be probably the best compendium on the topic for those interested not only in the practice or history of photography, but also its ethical implications. She will be missed." Paul Edward Hughes, Vancouver, Canada
"I remember first reading Illness as Metaphor in graduate school, and was captivated and inspired by it. The later essays on Aids were even more powerful, and I now assign the book to my own students whenever possible." Brian Cassel, Richmond, VA, USA
"She was a solid defender of human rights and gender equity, but also, and very remarkably, a heavy upholder of understanding and sense of community between writers of all languages and beliefs. "Hugo Vallenas, Lima Peru
"I am dismayed to hear of Susan Sontag's death. In trying times such as these, we need voices such as hers to awaken us from the collective insanity that is The War on Terror. She will be missed. " Justin Brown, Denver, Colorado, USA
"The last time I talked with Susan - some months ago - she lamented the way in which her country was becoming increasingly alien, almost unrecognisable. "I live on a ship called Manhattan, parked just off the continental US", she said, and wasn't sure, she added, how much longer she could stand inhabiting even New York. And now she has left us - as if we could afford the loss of her fierce intelligence and wry sense of humour and cool gaze into the maelstrom of pain and war, precisely at a time when her fellow countrymen sink ever more into denial of what happens in the wider world that she so brilliantly explored. "Ariel Dorfman, Chilean living in the USA
Sure did take her a long time. Seems to me she's been pretty sick for the last 50 years!
"While the World Trade Center was still smouldering, Sontag described the terrorists as "brave". She deserves no tribute." Nate, Salt Lake City, USA
|
|
Wish I'd said that. |
Give it a rest. She's dead. I never feel comfortable about celebrating someones death.
I am deeply sorry to hear of anyone's death from Leukemia. I hope and pray for a cure.
"I live on a ship called Manhattan, parked just off the continental USA."
This is very true and apt, like most liberals and leftists she had little or no contact with anyone outside a small letitist circle and preferred it that way.
Her ideas and thoughts about the United States are completely irrelevant. Unlike Edith Wharton, she was not forthright in stating that she wrote about only the NY elite.
She pretended to speak for and about "America".
What sort of irreducible haughtiness and contempt for this country would ever induce anyone to call the terrorists brave? It amounts to a kind of blood lust.
What you said. She's the only lefty I know of who connected 9-11 and Iraq.
I hate she's dead, but on the good side, she can't add to the collection of literary drivel.
But...you said Happy Festivus. Shouldn't they get to air their grievances?
"While the World Trade Center was still smouldering, Sontag described the terrorists as "brave". She deserves no tribute." Nate, Salt Lake City, USA
This alone give me reason to celebrate.
Here's my question: Andrew Sullivan has, for quite some time now, had a "Sontag Award" attributed to quotes of individuals in the media. I never quite got, though, what attribute the Sontag award was supposed to represent. Most of the quotes he awarded that to were pretty vile, but was there a specific quote he's equated with her? It certainly may have been the "brave" quote, it's been a while since I bothered to read his stuff.
Qwinn
Wish I'd said that.
I think we should go right into the Feats of Strength.
You must not have ever watched the musical Scrooge.
When Scrooge is lying in state they sing:
"Thank you very much, thank you very much, that's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for us!"
It's my favorite part.:-)
Nice sentiment Muhammad. However, AFAIK she only put out "cultural propaganda", of the leftist sort.
Damn straight, Nate. As far as 'culturally backward' from another post, how backward is it to applaud those that murder innocents?
Never heard of her.
As far as I am concerned it came about 70 years too late. My personal thoughts are good ridance.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.