Yes sir, Arafat is dead

L.O. has been asked by people who read the blog but have not deigned to comment (you know who you are, you cowardly, selfish tortfeasors!) why there have been no comments on the death of Yassir Arafat. The reason is L.O. genuinely doesn't know what to say. L.O. is certain that one of the latter half of the 20th Century's largest figures---with regard to his influence, his notoriety, his flair, his resilience---has passed into history. How that largeness will be interpreted--whether he will be regarded as one of the most remarkable con men, one of the most remarkable scoundrels, one of the most remarkable peacemakers, a destabilizing force, a force for self-determination---is for history to judge. The fact remains is that he was a little bit of everything. It is remarkable (there's that word again) that an Egyptian (to the best of L.O.'s recollection) should be the man most associated with the idea of Palestinian identity and statehood.

What is interesting is how his passing is yet another reminder of how far in the rear view the order of the last half century is traveling. These large personalities, complex, for good or for ill, are all passing. For good or for ill they were a lot of things--and L.O. can't help but notice that those who are taking their place are of a decidedly different character. They don't seem to be much of anything. Save for spin meisters. Where are the people that are something? It's not the lawyers that seem to be inheriting the earth--it's the hack publicists. Whatever Yassir Arafat was, he was something. He will cast a long shadow.