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WRITERS, ACTIVISTS REFLECT ON VIDAL LEGACY
by Khatchig Mouradian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/08/01/writers-activists-reflect-on-vidal-legacy/
August 1, 2012
David Barsamian, the founder and director of Alternative Radio,
once asked Gore Vidal how he wanted to be remembered. "Anybody who
is stupid enough to want to be remembered deserves to be forgotten
right now," quipped the prominent writer.
Gore Vidal in 1977 at his home in Los Angeles. (Photo credit: AP)
The 86-year-old icon passed away on July 31. Whether he wanted to be
remembered or not, he has made an indelible mark on America's cultural
and political landscape. Barsamian considers him a singular figure
who, "coming from a background of privilege and power, nevertheless
challenged many of the prevailing notions about Washington's intentions
and actions domestically and internationally."
I asked Barsamian about Vidal's legacy. "He was a student of history
and incorporated his vast knowledge into a series of best-selling
novels as well as political books. Referring to the U.S., he coined
the phrase 'the United States of Amnesia.' He was deeply troubled
by the erosion of freedom at home and the expansion of American
imperialism around the world. He saw the two joined at the hip. To
call him acerbic would be an understatement. He was, as they say in
cricket, an all-arounder, someone who could play many positions and
assume multiple roles."
Vidal was a prolific writer, essayist, playwright, screenwriter,
actor, and activist. He was also known for his wit:
"Fifty percent of people won't vote, and fifty percent don't read
newspapers. I hope it's the same fifty percent."
"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail."
"Never have children, only grandchildren."
"Our form of democracy is bribery, on the highest scale."
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would
simply do as I advise."
Novelist Nancy Kricorian remembers how she was first introduced to
Vidal's work. "When I was 16, I babysat for a European academic couple
who was living in Watertown while the husband did a post-doctoral
fellowship at MIT. It was in their home that I discovered a tattered
paperback copy of Gore Vidal's Myra Breckinridge, which I furtively
read after the toddlers were tucked into their beds. Having been
raised in the puritanical Armenian Evangelical Church, my eyebrows
were up to my hairline as I turned the pages."
Kricorian continued, "From this first introduction to Gore Vidal's
work to seeing a Broadway revival of his play 'The Best Man' only
a few months ago, I have long admired the audacity and wit of this
American iconoclast. In recent years, I have been inspired by his
acerbic denunciations of American imperial adventures."
Writer Ara Baliozian described Vidal as "brilliant, insightful, sharp,
eminently readable, and thoroughly anti-establishment!"
Scholar and activist Dikran Kaligian noted, "Gore Vidal's publications
and speeches rejected the mainstream frame of discussion whether it
was regarding Vietnam or the Cold War, Iraq or social justice. His
novels looked at key periods in American history from a different
perspective, reminding us of the progressive and left-wing movements
that have always been important players in this country, but which
have been whited-out of history books and current media reportage."
Kaligian, who is the chair of the Armenians and Progressive Politics
Conference to be held on Sept. 28-29 at Columbia University, added,
"The issues of human rights and self-determination, historical
injustice, and social democracy, which are so important to the Armenian
people, were always prominent in Gore Vidal's writings. He was a true
public intellectual and will be sorely missed."
Barsamian concurred. "We shan't see the likes of him again very soon."
by Khatchig Mouradian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/08/01/writers-activists-reflect-on-vidal-legacy/
August 1, 2012
David Barsamian, the founder and director of Alternative Radio,
once asked Gore Vidal how he wanted to be remembered. "Anybody who
is stupid enough to want to be remembered deserves to be forgotten
right now," quipped the prominent writer.
Gore Vidal in 1977 at his home in Los Angeles. (Photo credit: AP)
The 86-year-old icon passed away on July 31. Whether he wanted to be
remembered or not, he has made an indelible mark on America's cultural
and political landscape. Barsamian considers him a singular figure
who, "coming from a background of privilege and power, nevertheless
challenged many of the prevailing notions about Washington's intentions
and actions domestically and internationally."
I asked Barsamian about Vidal's legacy. "He was a student of history
and incorporated his vast knowledge into a series of best-selling
novels as well as political books. Referring to the U.S., he coined
the phrase 'the United States of Amnesia.' He was deeply troubled
by the erosion of freedom at home and the expansion of American
imperialism around the world. He saw the two joined at the hip. To
call him acerbic would be an understatement. He was, as they say in
cricket, an all-arounder, someone who could play many positions and
assume multiple roles."
Vidal was a prolific writer, essayist, playwright, screenwriter,
actor, and activist. He was also known for his wit:
"Fifty percent of people won't vote, and fifty percent don't read
newspapers. I hope it's the same fifty percent."
"It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail."
"Never have children, only grandchildren."
"Our form of democracy is bribery, on the highest scale."
"There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would
simply do as I advise."
Novelist Nancy Kricorian remembers how she was first introduced to
Vidal's work. "When I was 16, I babysat for a European academic couple
who was living in Watertown while the husband did a post-doctoral
fellowship at MIT. It was in their home that I discovered a tattered
paperback copy of Gore Vidal's Myra Breckinridge, which I furtively
read after the toddlers were tucked into their beds. Having been
raised in the puritanical Armenian Evangelical Church, my eyebrows
were up to my hairline as I turned the pages."
Kricorian continued, "From this first introduction to Gore Vidal's
work to seeing a Broadway revival of his play 'The Best Man' only
a few months ago, I have long admired the audacity and wit of this
American iconoclast. In recent years, I have been inspired by his
acerbic denunciations of American imperial adventures."
Writer Ara Baliozian described Vidal as "brilliant, insightful, sharp,
eminently readable, and thoroughly anti-establishment!"
Scholar and activist Dikran Kaligian noted, "Gore Vidal's publications
and speeches rejected the mainstream frame of discussion whether it
was regarding Vietnam or the Cold War, Iraq or social justice. His
novels looked at key periods in American history from a different
perspective, reminding us of the progressive and left-wing movements
that have always been important players in this country, but which
have been whited-out of history books and current media reportage."
Kaligian, who is the chair of the Armenians and Progressive Politics
Conference to be held on Sept. 28-29 at Columbia University, added,
"The issues of human rights and self-determination, historical
injustice, and social democracy, which are so important to the Armenian
people, were always prominent in Gore Vidal's writings. He was a true
public intellectual and will be sorely missed."
Barsamian concurred. "We shan't see the likes of him again very soon."