Norman Geras

One of the blogs on the THC blogroll which you can see (on a PC or iPad, not on a cellphone) in the lower left corner of my blog is Normblog.  Normblog is Norman Geras, a British Marxist and it's the only large circulation blog which has a link to THC which may surprise you since if you've read my political posts you know I am definitely NOT a Marxist.  Today I'm saddened to learn that Norm passed away after a lengthy struggle with prostate cancer.   I will miss him.

I'd corresponded with Norm on several occasions and urge you to take a look at Normblog.  Norman Geras  was a person of goodwill and humor with a generosity of spirit.  His lack of snark and the seriousness and respect with which he engaged with opposing views encouraged those of us who sometimes disagreed with him to nonetheless take the time to read him and think about what he had to say.  His interviews of other bloggers and his music and movie posts as well as his philosophical and political musings are worth reading.

What first caught my attention about Norm was that he was part of a small group of committed leftists who rejected moral relativism and believed in the importance of Western values.  Others in this category would include Brits like Nick Cohen and the late Christopher Hitchens (who became a U.S. citizen) and Americans like Paul Berman and Bruce Bawer (the last one is admittedly very difficult to characterize).  Oddly I often felt more of a kinship with them than with many of today's progressives who seem embarrassed and apologetic about the Western tradition and resist thinking through the implications of their current beliefs.  They were definitely out of step with the prevailing trends in liberal/left circles and at times came under heavy fire from their former comrades for pointing out some of the absurd beliefs they held.  They stood their ground when attacked I have great respect for all of them for doing so.  Even among this group, Norm stood out because of his congenial personality and way he made Normblog a friendly place to gather and it is why so many of us across the political spectrum had such affection for him and mourn his passing.