Oriana Fallaci, freedom fighter
Source: Mlle Glass’ photos

The great Oriana Fallaci, a clear-eyed journalist and universal freedom fighter for democracy, has died. We all knew she had cancer but this is very sad and affecting news. Her impact on world events cannot be underestimated. The Italian journalist went places no one else would go and saw through everything. No dictator could fool her. She exposed and clarified clowns like Khaddafi and others so that we could see what the real tyrannical enemy was like. At the end of her life, she denounced Islamofascism and extolled the value of civilization, with the courage of a lion. This makes me so so sad.

Rest in Peace.

Oriana Fallaci as a young freedom fighter in the Italian Resistance of WWII
Source: Os Meninos de Ouro (Portugal)

Occidentality has more, and so does Babalu and Michelle Malkin.

And don’t miss this moving tribute from Stefania in Italy on Oriana here. Tigerhawk has excerpts and links to her work, here. And Pajamas Media‘s excellent roundup from the blogosphere here.

Meanwhile, this piece, off Malkin, is extremely noteworthy. As Pope Benedict denounces radical Islam today, amid great furor, this very article describes Oriana’s influence on the pontiff’s thinking back in April 2006. And as long as we’re getting mystical here, check out the origin of the name ‘Oriana‘ and its relationship in Catholicism to the Muslim name Fatima. Once again, a coincidence. Among coincidences. It is as if Oriana has died at the height of her powerful influence, as the earthquake is happening, right this minute. The word for this is awe.