361 words
I have been writing this column, off and on, mostly on, for–dear God, can it be nearly thirty years? Yet nothing lasts forever, neither columns nor columnists, and Fred on Everything, for unexpected reasons with which I will not bore the reader, has reached its end.
Columnizing is a curious trade. I suppose that from time to time most in it ask themselves, “Why am I doing this?” It is not from vanity or the desire to see one’s name in print. At the age of twenty, a new writer thinks that if only he can be published in the next most important outlet, he will be happy and fulfilled. At thirty, he thinks, oh hell, its deadline, what can I write and how can I make it seem fresh and interesting when almost every subject has been written about thousands of times by thousands of writers also on deadline?
I suspect that few columnists think that their output will accomplish anything. People seldom change their minds. Most likely we are just bellowing at the universe to behave itself. It doesn’t.
Unlike many in our ashen trade, I have been fortunate in not having an editor to tell me what to write and not being constrained to specialize. “Fred on Everything” may sound pompous but it is not restrictive. Thus I could write about anything from the military-industrial-complex, to being a barefoot-and-BB gun-toting Tom Sawyer simulacrum in small-town Alabama, to robots and the realities of Mexico. This has been fun for me and, apparently, for a certain kind of reader.
But not to most. What most readers want is to be told over and over what they already believe, preferably in combative prose. Most columnists and websites do exactly this. I could never do it, perhaps because of some psychic defect. Or maybe I am just bull-headed. The result has been that readers have been few by internet standards but, at least in my judgement, a superior and versatile sort who can disagree without huffing-and-deleting. I regard them–you– as fellow conspirators against the expected, the tedious, and the ordinary. It has been fun. I thank you for the years.
Ciao,
Fred
27 comments
So farewell to a comrade, and farewell to a friend
You did your best, you shone above the rest
You were a white man ’till the end
Farewell Fred Reed, a man we held so high
You will live forever, because heroes, heroes never die…
Cheers!
Adios Fred. You were one of the best!
😓
Godspeed to you on your next journey, sir. It’s been a pleasure reading your columns, you’re one of the best!
“you magnificent bastard, I read your book.” Miss your writing sir.
Been with you since “Throw Your Inner Child Down A Well”.
Thank you.
Have a good life Fred, We wish you well
Thank you. I enjoyed your work.
I admire your writing & respect you as a man. I will miss your columns. I hope at least the reasons for ending them are not related to the war wounds to your eyes, about which you have written most tellingly, affectingly, & damnably (regarding the American war-of-choice in Vietnam).
Fare well, Fred. I’ve been reading your work since I was a teenager, almost 30 years ago. I remember buying your new book, The Great Possum-Squashing and Beer Storm of 1962. You’ve done a lot of good work over the years.
What most readers want is to be told over and over what they already believe, preferably in combative prose.
Man that’s the truth.
Godspeed and Semper Fi, Fred.
A legend. Truly one of the best prose stylists alive.
Twenty five or so years ago I sat on a bench in the Jocotepec town square for the Sunday evening parade. The young boys walking in a circle one way while the young girls walked in a circle going the opposite way, their mamas always close around. I have tape somewhere.
Then fifteen or so years ago I went to Tom’s bar in Ajijic hoping to catch a glimpse or shake your hand but they said you didn’t come around much anymore. New management or something.
Then there was the great alligator, or crocodile, I don’t remember which, thing in Lake Chapala. That was a good one and those were all good times.
Adios Amigo.
I always enjoyed your writing Mr. Reed. You writing was filled with the wanderlust, grit and adventurous spirit of the great American pioneer. Whenever I read your writing I could see a hard nosed man with a gentle soul shining out of the twinkle in his eye. You are a quintessential American, and I appreciate your writing and your efforts.
God bless you and your family. Enjoy your retirement years.
Godspeed Brother. I’ve enjoyed all your writings, even if I didn’t agree with everything you said. May your future endeavors be full of joy!
Adios, Frito Bandito!
I am sure you have learned a lot over the
years, especially from your written commentators.
Stay tuned!
I only found your work in this year. Great columns, very good writing.
I first heard your name from the late, great Ron Smith on the radio in Baltimore, at least 25 years ago. He read “Doing the DC Bob” on the air. I went to your site and became an instant fan.
Through FOE I learned of AmRen, through AmRen I discovered that neoconservatism wasn’t the only voice on the right, and that an anti-war right was a thing that could and did exist. Through that, I was convinced of the true and evil nature of American politics and dropped out of the Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies.
When people ask me my “red pill story,” it starts with Ron Smith and Fred Reed.
When FOE closed up, I was happy to see at least you were still on Unz. When those stopped, I wondered if you might be dead. I haven’t checked into CC in a while, and if this is your last column, then I’m glad the day I did it just happened to be on the front page.
Cheers.
Also, The Ascension Of Wunxputl is an absolute masterpiece.
Adios
I hate to see you go, because I love the way you write. But I’m also glad, if it’s the best thing for you and for your family at this point in your lives.
Wishing you the best, sir.
We’re going to miss you, Reed. You were one of the good guys.
Great job on the articles written over the years Fred
Good Luck on your new journey
you will be missed
I started reading your stuff way in the Washington Times. Always a treat, sir.
Best of luck.
I enjoyed Fred Reed’s columns, and he had a lot of honesty and humor. Always worth looking at. I first read him in an article about self-publishing which was helpful to me, and made a cogent argument that the big publishing houses were useless dinosaurs. As he put it, “the only writer who will be published by them without pause is Hilary Clinton.” That being said, he wrote in a lot of cutesy-poo phrases and tangents that could have been excised. Also, while I admired Fred’s writing and arguments, he always took Mexico’s side and said over and over that Mexican/immigrant invasion of the U.S. can’t be stopped and we’re fools for trying to. I assume being married to a Mexican had something to do with this. It was something that always disappointed me. He also claimed Mexico was far superior to us in education, technology, etc. He also seemed to take a blind eye to drug cartels, but a lot of Americans do. They should, since the govenment probably funds most of them.I contrast this with his very honest and realistic appraisal of blacks. He showed no mercy in his assessment of their deficiencies, and likewise with any kind of government leader and the military.
having been in the army, I concur with all he said, and his final judgements of the stupidity of the Ukraine war were correct. I’ll always remember Fred, and think he’s our Mark Twain. I wish him well.
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