Dylan: American singer-songwriter recognized with Nobel Prize

It might seem strange for an old conservative newspaper to come out with an editorial praising Bob Dylan for winning the Nobel Prize for literature.

But we are.

The singer-songwriter has been the voice of a generation that is now graying. We have followed him for decades as he changed from folk song balladeer to rock and roll icon, all the while remaining the wordsmith who put our feelings into lyrics that captured the spirit of the times.

Now in his 70s, Dylan continues to turn out new music. His inner fountain has not run dry like so many others in his field but has actually seemed to grow stronger and more creative with age and experience.

The men and women who select the Nobel Prize winners decided that his body of work deserved recognition. They saw that the words of the poet who has remained vibrant for more than half a century will live on for many years to come. Dylan's voice is singularly American, and his work captures the spirit of America, the yearning for freedom of expression that is the underpinning of our nation. We are proud of him and proud for him. His recognition is, in many ways, a recognition of us as well.

Published in Editorials on November 26, 2016 11:42 PM