Molly

Free Speech Zone: An Evening with Molly Ivins, June 9,2005
Photo courtesy of Wade Harris and Brazos Progressives (used with permission)

On June 9, 2005, I and several hundred other Brazos Valley lovers of Molly Ivins and civil liberties got to meet, see and hear Molly up close and personal. Our Brazos Valley Chapter of the ACLU had some months earlier asked her if she would please come speak at a fund raiser for our recently reconstituted Chapter. We knew of Molly's historical commitment to helping civil rights groups, but we were still surprised and so very pleased when she readily agreed to help us out. Our evening with Molly was an astounding success on all counts. It was a standing room only crowd at the College Station Hilton that night and we couldn't have enjoyed it more. Among other things, Molly strongly encouraged us that night to not sit on our laurels waiting for the right-wing swinging pendulum to head back to the left of its own volition. She told us to get out there and push it back. And she said, don't forget and "have fun" doing it."Drink beer and have some fun." Can't argue with that now can we? (Go here to view some pictures of Molly at the BV-ACLU fund raiser, hosted on the the Brazos Progressives web site.)

Molly's final column, Stand Up Against the Surge, was published on January 11. She died oh so prematurely today at the age of 62. Here's what she counseled in the final paragraph of her column:

We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there. Hit the streets to protest Bush's proposed surge. If you can, go to the peace march in Washington on Jan. 27. We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, "Stop it, now!"

As so many others have acknowledged, Molly was a true national treasure. And I can think of no better way that this national treasure would feel honored than by following her last encouragement to us: Step outside, hit the streets, raise hell, make the ridiculous look ridiculous, bang pots and pans in the streets and demand to stop it now. And don't forget to let the troops know we're trying to get them out of there.

Thank you so damn much, Molly, for your years of advocating for social justice with such wit, wisdom and good humor. You are an inspiration to all who fight for peace and civil liberties and it's a crying shame that you were taken from us way too soon. Folks are sure going to remember you lovingly, though, as we're in the streets and halls of congress, pushing that pendulum back to the left where it damn well belongs. And later, after each of our struggles, when we gather in our neighborhood pubs, laughing and drinking beer as you exhorted us to do, you can be damn well sure that you'll be there with us round the table, too. Here's lifting a cerveza to you Molly!!! ¡Muchísimo gracias por todo, y ojalá que descansas en paz amiga!

(If you'd also like to honor Molly Ivins in another way, donations can be made in her name to the Texas ACLU or the Texas Observer.)