Steven Vincent RIP

As most of the world knows, Steven is dead in Iraq, murdered, it seems likely, by those he criticized in his New York Times piece last Sunday. It was a privilege to work with Steven, a brave journalist and a man of integrity, and I can do no better than Kathryn Jean Lopez on National Review Online in paying tribute to him.

Comments

[Papa Ray]

It looks like you opened it to spam.

I would talk to someone and find out how to block it.

Steven Vincent would most likely be pissed if he saw that crap. But I think he would shrug it off and go on to more important things.

May his loved ones and his enemies know that he was someone special.

I sure do.

Papa Ray
West Texas
USA

[Jennifer Zimmerman]

I am thru page 75 and my feelings about the war have changed. All those who said to Steven "thank you America for setting us free". It's so easy to feel so angry at Pres. Bush for all our dead soldiers. But if our president was killing our innocent USA citizens and nobody came in and helped save us, we'd be in exactly the same boat as most of the Iraqi people. They are human beings, regardless of race, religion, sex, etc. I wish the rest of the world was brave enought to help and stop sitting around being scared. Do something. Steven brought light to the unknown for me.

[Paul Miller]

I was devastated to hear of Stephen's death. I looked forward to his dispatches, and the light they shed on the real situation in Iraq.

We've lost a great man. My condolences to all Stephen's family and friends.

[PebblePie]

I'm so glad you have reopened the comments. This is such a sad loss for me. I try to get all my news from those on the ground in Iraq.
Steven was such a favorite and you could just tell by reading him, of his earnest sincerity and love of the people there and his job.
I will never forget. He has opened the eyes of many, his work accomplished much, in the world understanding the difficulties in a war torn nation.
Rest in Sweet Sweet Peace Steven. You are loved.

Pebble

[ELC]

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.

[Brad]

I would like to offer my condolences to the family of Steven Vincent. Though I had only recently read his work, I was happy to find an honest reporter telling us what is really happening so far from our living rooms.
I too, am thankful you opened the site to comments and hope others respect this wonderful blog.

[Rubin]

Thank you Steven.

[bill brady]

this has bothered me deeply

I still see his face in my mind as I walk around the neighborhood

i can't forget his sincerety and professionalism

he was really interested and commited

the east village is missing a good man and
I believe his spirit is here with us

I offer my condolences to his family

thank you steven

bill

[Patrick]

Steven Vincent's honest reporting and detailed analysis on the events from Iraq will be sorrowfully missed as well as forever cherished. Sadly, God's finger touched him, and he slept. May the soft earth be a cushion in his present rest.

[Lisa Ramaci-Vincent]

I would like to ask anyone who had a post deleted to please re-post. It had been my intention to copy all of the posts, both positive and negative, into a word document, but I did not have the time to do so before they were taken down. Anonymous of the lily poem, if you read this and still have a copy, PLEASE repost it...

Thank you to all who respect Steven and post kindly about him. He was the bravest man I have ever met, and deserving of all the praise he is getting.

[anonymous]

8/4/05 for Steven Vincent RIP

East Village NYC

Hot subway heat
Burning feeling in my heart
Must do this
Bought a single lily
Huge stem, carefully chosen
Please wrap in clear so it can be seen
Aggressive crowd kept at bay
By my arms and elbows
lilies imply purity of the heart
Other folklore tells of lilies,
unplanted by any human hand
spontaneously appearing
on the graves of people executed for crimes they did not commit
It was believed to strengthen memory,
to restore speech to those who could not speak
Symbol of innocence; purity and beauty
People with this name tend to be a powerful force
to all whose lives they touch.
They are capable, charismatic leaders
who often undertake large endeavors with great success
They value truth, justice, and discipline
14th st where to next?
Hop east on bus
Get the past seat up front
Don’t make eye contact
This hurts
Woman with cane asks
What kind of flower
How beautiful
How she loves flowers
It is a lily I said
Forcing a smile
Got to get off this bus
Feet hurt but will walk
Wrong direction
Then right
What was the number again?
Nondescript building
Few flowers of orange
A purple candle lit
Sign on door
Set my lily carefully
And stared at the small arrangement
A man and woman were talking
A few feet away
Snips of relevant pieces
Told me they were here for the same reason
Alone
Kept my eyes on the flowers and cried
A man walked by me and said
“he was a good man…a very good man.”
I nod to him
But look away quickly
Eyes down heart down
Enough
Walk west down his block
For 20 years? His home away from the world?
Dark sweet block
A muslim meeting house
How ironic
Later St Marks poetry
What a lovely inclusive street
He chose to live on
When he wasn’t traveling the world for truth
-c

[Lisa Ramaci-Vincent]

Anonymous, thank you and God bless you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

[Lisa Ramaci-Vincent]

And my heartfelt thanks to Colleen D., who had somehow managed to capture all of the posts through August 13, and who emailed them to me, which I just discovered. God bless you, too -

[Ben]

I am glad you reopened the board. When I came here the night I learned of Steven's death, I was appalled by all the leftists defacing the board. I just could not believe it, I would never think of doing such a thing. That said...

I can not express how deeply I will miss reading Steven Vincent's work. I am truly sorry for your loss, Steven was a great man who did great work. He will not be forgotten.

[Vivian]

I can't tell you how sad I am that he is gone, that his work has ended.

My prayers and thoughts go out to Mr. Vincent's family and to his interpreters family. Such tragedy, senseless and needless.

[rongusss]

The summer wind, came blowin' in - from across the sea

It lingered there, to touch your hair- and walk with me

All summer long, we sang a song - and then we strolled that golden sand

Two sweethearts, and the summer wind

Like painted kites, those days and nights - they went flyin' by

The world was new, beneath a blue - umbrella sky

Then softer than, a piper man - one day it called to you

And I lost you, i lost you to the summer wind

The autumn wind, and the winter winds - they have come and gone

And still the days, those lonely days - they go on and on

And guess who sighs his lullabies - through nights that never end

My fickle friend, the summer wind

[David in Australia]

Steven's work will never be forgotten.

[David in Australia]

oops, that comment is from a laconic Australian, and might be mis-interpreted. What I meant to say was.. Thank you for his life and works, he will be sadly missed.

[brodgers]

Lisa, i can only imagine what it would be like to personally have known a man like Steven. Truly, he was a brave soul. I looked forward to reading his posts as they opened my mind to a world I can only imagine, and just read his book. His words lent vision and altered my thoughts of the middle east war in a positive way. A fascinating, enlightening, captivating read. I am saddened to not have more.
My sincere condolences for your loss, and ours.

[Barry Jacobs]

I am so very sad that we have lost such a man. Thank you for sharing him with the world. We are better, braver and wiser, and the future of Iraq, the U.S. and the world is brighter because of his work. He made his life mean something. God bless Steven and God bless you.

[William McElgin]

I said a few things about Steven in my blog on 8/03.

http://globalstuff.blogspot.com/

It is nice to see that the overriding impulse was to keep this site open to comments. I would like to have a place to go to raise a toast to Steven when the US has been successful in Iraq.

[Rubin]

Dear Lisa,

I read your beautiful reply to jcole's shameful letter. Thank you for setting the record straight.

You Go Girl!

[cw]

Dear Mrs. Vincent,
I just read the response you wrote to Juan Cole and I commend you for your strength and courage. It was excellently composed and filled with heart and soul, both yours and your husband's. Thank you and I hope my prayers for you and your family will be of some comfort during this dificult time.

[Tom Penn]

Thank God for brave, free, honorable men. Sincere condolences to family, friends, and all those who miss him.

Deepest Regards,

[Doubting Thomas]

I was heartsick to learn of Steven Vincent's death. I went out and bought a copy of his book; it was the only thing I could do. I had barely learned of the man before he was killed. My sympathy to his wife.

I hope Nour is extracted from the country. I'm fearful that no one with real power will do anything to protect her; it seems unlikely those who shot her have forgiven her and will let her live.

I hope whatever secrets Steven Vincent had uncovered come to light.