Italian Writer Oriana Fallaci Dies, Reports Say

[LiberalHeart]

ROME (AP) -- Veteran journalist and writer Oriana Fallaci, a former war correspondent best known for her abrasive interviews and provocative stances, has died, Italian news reports said Friday. She was 76.

Fallaci, who had been diagnosed with cancer years ago, died in a Florence hospital, the Italian agencies ANSA and Apcom said. The reports said that she had been hospitalized for days.

Fallaci, a former Resistance fighter and war corespondent who was hardly seen in public, had lived in New York for years.

During her journalistic career she became known for uncompromising interviews with such world leaders as former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Link goes to New York Times:
http://tinyurl.com/ry7qa

[swimmernsecretsea]

1. I remember her from the interview on 60 minutes

I must have been in gradeschool, but I recall how impressed I was with her. I recalled her name for years and found her books in bookstores around the country.

[MADem]

2. She never was a stranger to controversy, that's for sure

''Fallaci's manner of interviewing was deliberately unsettling: She approached each encounter with studied aggressiveness, made frequent nods to European existentialism (she often disarmed her subjects with bald questions about death, God, and pity), and displayed a sinuous, crafty intelligence,'' The New Yorker wrote in a profile this year entitled ''The Agitator.''

Fallaci's recent publications drew accusations of racism and inciting hatred against Muslims. They include the best-selling book ''The Rage and The Pride,'' which came out weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks and found a large audience in Europe.

...Her next essay, ''The Strength of Reason,'' accused Europe of having sold its soul to what Fallaci described as an Islamic invasion. It also took the Catholic Church to task for being what she considers too weak before the Muslim world.

Describing Europe as ''Eurabia'' -- a mix of Europe and Arabia -- Fallaci said the continent ''has sold itself and sells itself to the enemy like a prostitute.''....

[Flagg]

3. Good riddance

[Laughing Mirror]

5. Really

Dreadful terrible hack.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

4. Her hatred of Muslims

is so blind and fierce and lately she seemed to be turning into a major bigot. She was also not very nice toward homosexuals.

[Malikshah]

6. Here's what I picture

Oriana in the afterlife:

*Walking up to Pearly gates*

Oriana: "Wow, I made it. Can't wait to meet everyone and begin an eternity of bliss"

*Sees bearded gent at gates*

Oriana: "Hmmm, must be St. Peter. Guess I'll let him know I'm here."

*Walks up to gates*

Oriana: "Howdy, St. Peter. I'm ready to check in"

*Bearded gentleman steps back and looks at her sharply*

Gentleman: "You can't be serious??!!"

Oriana: "Why what do you mean? I've led a rich and virtuous life. I spread the good word and helped people...

Gentleman: "That's all well and good, but we were expecting someone a bit younger..."

Oriana: "I'm confused. Younger?"

Gentleman: "You don't appear to be too doe-eyed either."

Oriana: "Uh...I'm not sure what you mean by that"

Gentleman: "At least tell me you're a virgin."

Oriana: "Uhhhhh....."

*Bearded gent pulls out a phone*

Gentleman: "Muhammad? Yes. Allahu akbar and all that. Look, we've got another reject here..."

[Bridget Burke]

7. Sad that age & disease took a toll on her mind...

She did some fine work before she retired.

During the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre prior to the 1968 Summer Olympics, Fallaci was shot three times, dragged down stairs by her hair, and left for dead by Mexican forces. Later, her recollection of the events would shift. According to The New Yorker, her former support of the student activists "devolved into a dislike of Mexicans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriana_Fallaci

The New Yorker interview was fairlyl recent--after 12 years of fighting breast cancer.
www.newyorker.com/printables/fact/060605fa_fact

Years ago, I read If the Sun Dies--a poetic account of the American space program--and Letter to a Child Never Born. Fine books, but now out of print--as are most of her earlier works. Of course, the anti-Muslim books are in print, with 5-star reviews by the usual scumbags at Amazon.

What a pity.