I have written appreciatively about Oriana Fallaci in the past. [See here] Today The Anchoress tells us that Oriana Fallaci has left books and personal papers to a pontifical school in Rome. This wouldn't be so unusual except that Oriana Fallaci was an atheist. I would like to reproduce the Anchoress' words for my own readers. It should be noted that her post is crossposted at Captain's Quarters Blog which carries many reader responses. Here is what the Anchoress wrote:
October 21, 2006
Fallaci gifts pontifical school
The headline is deplorable (she deserves to be named) but I knew immediately that they were writing about the great Oriana Fallaci, here: Atheist gifts pontifical school in will
An Italian journalist and self-described atheist who died last month has left most of her books and notes to a pontifical university in Rome because of her admiration for Pope Benedict XVI, a school official said Saturday.Oriana Fallaci had described the pontiff as an ally in her campaign to rally Christians in Europe against what she saw as a Muslim crusade against the West. As she battled breast cancer last year, she had a private audience with Benedict…
In one of her final interviews, Fallaci told The Wall Street Journal: “I am an atheist, and if an atheist and a pope think the same things, there must be something true.”
You’ll want to read the whole article, it’s pretty good.
Fallaci was a fascinating creature and I think the left is making a cowardly mistake in distancing themselves from her because of her ardent writings on Europe and the rising threat from Islamofascists. In decreeing Fallaci insufficiently tolerant, the left has been slowly but surely throwing away one of its most interesting and honorable legends. I love this story about her:
Forced to wear a chador while interviewing the Ayotollah Khomeini, Fallaci asked a more insolent question: “How do you swim in a chador?” Khomeini snapped, “Our customs are none of your business. If you do not like Islamic dress you are not obliged to wear it. Because Islamic dress is for good and proper young women.” Fallaci saw an opening, and charged in. “That’s very kind of you, Imam. And since you said so, I’m going to take off this stupid, medieval rag right now.” She yanked off her chador.
That the fierce, passionate and relentlessly cerebral Fallaci, a former resistance fighter against true fascists, is shunted aside and called a “fascist” by know-it-all collegiate bookstore clerks while feminist clowns rule the day is a sad reflection of our dumbed-down era and the devolution of genuine, “classically liberal” thought.
It’s alright. In 20 years, we’ll still be talking about Oriana Fallaci. I doubt we’ll be able to name her detractors. Her most recent books translated to English were The Rage and the Pride and The Force of Reason. Both are brilliant, thoughtful, passionate, maddening and moving and whether you agree with her or not, she will challenge you to think. When or if the third book in that trilogy will be translated to English is anyone’s guess, given the times. I’m not even sure of its title.
While Fallaci was dying of cancer, she couldn’t eat, so she drank champagne, instead. I love that. She lived a life.
Update: 20/14/06 - Candace de Russy writes:
Did Fallaci’s admiration for the Pope stem exclusively from her view of him as an ally in her passionate efforts to rouse Christians to defend Europe? Or is some way did she share his belief (enunciated upon receiving the gift) that "God is the ultimate truth to which all reason naturally gravitates."
In chapter nine of The Force of Reason (of which I am honored to have received an autographed copy from Fallaci this past Easter), she reaffirms her atheism in no uncertain terms but at the same time insists she is “a Christian atheist.” She explains:I am a Christian because I like the discourse which stays at the roots of Christianity. Because it convinces me. It seduces me…I mean the discourse conceived by Jesus of Nazareth…which…concentrates on Man. Which admitting free-will, claiming Man’s conscience, makes us responsible for our actions. Masters of our destiny. I see a hymn to Reason, a revival of clear thinking…choice…the rediscovery of freedom. The redemption of liberty…an idea that nobody had ever had…The idea of a God that becomes Man…Who speaking of a Creator…introduces himself as his Son and explains that all men are brothers of his Son…capable of exercising their own divine essence…by preaching the Goodness which is the fruit of Reason, of Freedom, by spreading Love…Jesus…as a man…tackles the theme of secularism…he stops the cowards who are about to stone the adulteress…he blasts against slavery…he fights…he dies. Without dying because Life does not die. Life always resurrects, Life is eternal. And, together with the discourse on Reason, on Freedom, this is the point that mostly convinces me…the refusal of Death, the apotheosis of Life…its alternative is Nothingness. And let’s face it: such is the principle which leads and feeds our civilization. (pp. 185-189)
What, if any, were Fallaci’s final ruminations on the oxymoron “Christian atheism”? Fallaci’s admirers – and I count myself among them – may never know, although the personal notes she left to Benedict may yield further insights. But even in contradiction she – because she is Fallaci – cannot help but be morally and spiritually bracing. I for one believe she strove bravely to live “as if God existed.”