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January 24, 2005
GOING OUT WITH A BANG
I've said before that I don't like William Safire's politics. But as someone lucky enough to write for a living, I've always had great appreciation for Mr. Safire's ability to articulate an argument, to write to persuade... hell, just his ability to write. He may have been on the other side of the fence -- I could count on my fingers the number of times I agreed with something he wrote -- but Safire is an incredible talent who has earned my respect.
William Safire retired today, with a flurry of four columns in the New York Times worth your attention. But the one I found most enjoyable of all was his final column, in which he gives readers advice on how to read a political column. In it, Safire is funny, is genuine, is respectful, is playful... is Safire. The column reminded me of why I'm so going to miss someone whom I never even agree with. I cannot recommend more strongly that you click through and read it.
What I enjoyed most, however, was Safire's slightly self-mocking as he discussed the rules... and the little tricks of writing that he warns you not to be fooled by -- tricks that aren't really tricks so much as escapes. I laughed along with him, because I've done a couple of the very things he warns about from time to time. But most of all, my favorite rule of his was Rule #4:
4. When infuriated by an outrageous column, do not be suckered into responding with an abusive e-mail. Pundits so targeted thumb through these red-faced electronic missives with delight, saying "Hah! Got to 'em."
I hope that by the time I retire, I may have "gotten to" a simple fraction of the numbers that William Safire did. So bon voyage, Mr. Safire. May the wind be at your back in your travels.
