Harold Pinter, the Nobel Prize winning playwright, died in London recently. Pinter became known (and notorious) throughout the English speaking world for his ability to “create dramatic poetry out of everyday speech.” The Guardian called his work “provocative, powerful, and influential”, and plays such as The Caretaker, The Homecoming, and Celebration have become part of the repertory of great theater.
Throughout his life, Pinter was engaged intensely in political life. His laureate speech when he won the Nobel Prize was a blistering condemnation of the Bush Regime, and that of Bush’s partner in crime, British Prime Minster Tony Blair. Its words, reprinted below, remain as powerful, eloquent, and challenging as ever.
Harold Pinter signed the call for World Can’t Wait, Drive Out the Bush Regime. When he did so, he explained:
“The Bush Administration is the most dangerous force that has ever existed. It is more dangerous than Nazi Germany because of the range and depth of its activities and intentions worldwide. I give my full support to the Call to Drive out the Bush Regime.”