"Still in touch, but ready to go" were his words in one of his last appearances in 2007. Studs Terkel dies today at the age of 96on Oct 31, 2008. Studs Terkel touched many lives, young and old with his popular radio show from 1952 to 1997, and his writings on numerous topics. In late 2003, I was given a copy of "Hope Dies Last-Keeping the Faith in Troubled Times", where Studs gives his accounts of meeting with and discussing historical moments with the likes of Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Pete Seeger, Tom Hayden, and Arlo Guthrie among many others. Terkel's Pulitzer Prize winning "The Good War" examined how World War II emphasized unity in America, whereas our country's efforts in Vietnam have not, much like Iraq. His works are many and great. Studs' advocacy for Peace and Health Care for all Americans made him heroic for activists, yet his heart and soul were crusading for the right thing. I did not wish for this blog's 500th post to mourn the death of an American icon, so as Mike Malloy said on his radio show "I suppose at age 96 we should celebrate his life". Studs had many humorous and inspiring quotes...
"A lot of people feel, 'What can I do, (it's) hopeless.' Well, through all these years there have been the people I'm talking about, whom we call activists ... who give us hope and through them we have hope."
"I hope for peace and sanity — it's the same thing."
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