Obits

Rose Friedman, “Advocate of Freedom”

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rose-friedman

Jay already had a post up. But I decided a picture, and a link to the University of Chicago obituary were in order.

Her most important contribution was the 1980 book Free to Choose, which she co-wrote with her husband, and the accompanying 10-part PBS series. Both were highly successful— the book topped the best-seller list for five weeks — and had a profound impact on public discussions of freedom. At a time when the nation’s confidence was at an all-time low, Free to Choose helped restore America’s faith in liberty[.]

One reason these times are as bad as they are is that even good people are terribly ignorant about freedom, including economic freedom, and what it means, and how it works, and what it means to lose it. Revisiting the popular work of Milton and Rose Friedman, and introducing other people to it who were not even born when Free to Choose was on television, could do a lot of good.

Eric Holder wants the American people, a nation of cowards, as he calls us, to have a national conversation about race.

I propose instead that the American people have a national conversation about freedom.

Amazingly, the entire Free to Choose TV show, all ten episodes, is available for free, here.

You can get a used paperback copy of the book for a penny (+ postage).

I am going to re-read it before the turn of the year.

Rose Friedman, ~1911-2009

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Via Brian Doherty and Pejman Yousefzadeh, I learn that Rose Friedman has died. Requiescat in pace.

Robert Novak, 1931-2009, Reporter

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Always love your country — but never trust your government!

Robert Novak

(His memoir, Prince of Darkness is supposed to be good. Thomas Sowell’s review here.)

Also, see this:

The fact is that Novak, as he would disclose in his autobiography, actually admired very few politicians. He wrote that he found the first politicians he covered less impressive than the athletic coaches he had covered as a young reporter — “an impression of the political class that did not change appreciably in a half-century of sustained contact.”

Michael Barone says the man and his books will live on.

Leszek Kołakowski (October 23, 1927 – July 17, 2009)

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A bit of a Chicago Boy, as it turns out. Thanks to Pejman for the tip. Requiescat in pace.

Darrell Powers, 1923-2009, American Soldier

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Darrell “Shifty” Powers died on June 17.

He was in the 101 Airborne Division. He parachuted into Normandy and Holland. He fought the Germans. He lived to tell the tale.

What follows has been circulating as an email. I ask you to pray for the repose of his soul, and for his family.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

We’re hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.

I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell “Shifty” Powers.

Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you’ve seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

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