Nora Ephron, the screenwriter responsible for When Harry Met Sally, Silkwood, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, Julie & Julia, died on Tuesday at the age of 71. Lawrence O'Donnell paid tribute to her on that night's edition of The Last Word.
After describing her as a "friend," he said, "I tried to collect my thoughts today when I'd heard that we lost her ... and I couldn't." Instead, he read a statement from Tom Hanks, which read:
Nora Ephron was a journalist/artist who knew what was important to know; how things really worked, what was worthwhile, who was fascinating and why. At a dinner table and on a film set, she lifted us all with wisdom and wit mixed with lofe for us and love for life. Rita and I are so very sad to lose our friend who brought so much joy to all who were lucky enough to know her.
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When I heard the words of Tom Hanks concerning our collective cultural loss of the talented & creative Nora, I felt over whelming emotion. We have these brutal and perhaps even evil men tearing our country apart...whether on witch hunts in congress or marshaling pain on the many and gain on the view. Just a few short years ago she showed us a different side of ourselves based upon gentle romantic stumbles into unlikely loves and courageous stands. Fiction, yes, of course. But they made us feel good in our gut before touching hearts. And in losing those like her we are frankly losing period. Where now are the voices of tolerance, sensibility, softness and middle ground. Should she leave us a complementary clone there's no telling how much more good the world would see.