i would cry too

Christiane Amanpour on a touching moment at Walter Cronkite’s memorial service:

Speaking at his memorial, he (Nick Clooney) described the last time they had dinner together in New York, in March this year. Cronkite’s back was to the other diners, but when he got up to leave everyone noticed. Clooney described the distinctive sibilance that happens as word of mouth passes around. Cronkite, hard of hearing, didn’t notice. But as he slowly walked towards the door, one by one the diners stood, until the whole restaurant was standing. “Because”, said Nick Clooney, “that’s what you do when a gentleman leaves the room.” That’s when I cried.

Leszek Kolakowski (1927-2009)

I do not believe that human culture can ever reach a perfect synthesis of its diversified and incompatible components. Its very richness is supported by this very incompatibility of its ingredients. And it is the conflict of values, rather than their harmony, that keeps our culture alive.

Frank McCourt (1930-2009)

It’s lovely to know that the world can’t interfere with the inside of your head.

Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

And no message could have
been any clearer
if you wanna make the world
a better place
take a look at yourself
then make the change

Anthony Yeo (1949 – 2009)

ST:

Singapore’s ‘father of counselling’ Anthony Yeo, who had leukaemia, died yesterday from complications…

He died at about 6pm, surrounded by friends and family.

He will be cremated tomorrow during a private ceremony and his ashes will be strewn in the sea.

As was his wish, there will be no wake. However, there will be a memorial service next month…

‘He was very radical in his views and one of the things I learnt from him was never to impose a framework or model of counselling on a person as everybody is different,’

Mario Benedetti (1920-2009)

When they bury me / please don’t forget / about my pen.

link

Marilyn French (1929 – 2009)

…all men are rapists, and that’s all they are. They rape us with their eyes, their laws, and their codes

J.G. Ballard (1930 – 2009)

But the writer has no business making moral judgments or trying to set himself up as a one-man or one-woman magistrate’s court. I think it’s far better, as Burroughs did and I’ve tried to do in my small way, to tell the truth.

James Purdy (1915-2009)

I don’t think I’d like it if people liked me. I’d think that something had gone wrong.

Harold Pinter (1930-2008)

There is a violence in me but I don’t walk around looking for trouble.