Friday, August 3, 2012

Goodbye… Until we meet Again…


I Suppose we’ll do so on the celestial (I hope…) byways…

No, not me… Hopefully there’s still some wood left in this particular fire, but too many folks who were a part of my growing up into certified manhood seem to be disconnecting from the earthly networks, hanging up their keyboards and earplugs and reconnecting into the Ethernet… literally!!

One such was Gore Vidal… Now, you now that I am not an avowed liberal so… why should I be talking about someone farther to the left than any one with whom I could possibly identify? Well, yes, he was an intransigent liberal mind, falling off the left side of the scope but, what a mind he had!

His encounters during the ‘68 elections with William Buckley, as acerbically far to the right as Vidal was to the left were so incredibly fascinating that they spawned a TV show based on debating issues and viewpoints; this show became an instant hit. Whether one would root for one or the other the exchanges were, on an intellectual level, incredibly stimulating. I can respect this; to be able to argue, debate and discuss two very different and totally opposing viewpoints at this level was, as those who would express their thoughts on the contents of these shows would say: “Wow!... Fascinating Stuff!”  Today, we regularly witness shouting matches where those who shout the loudest will seem to carry the day… back then the decibel level was less important than the content of the arguments…

As often expressed in these entries, whether I agree with you or not, I do respect your (or anyone’s) rights to express an opinion… even when totally wrong!!! Really…  It isn’t a question of having to convince each other about what we individually espouse, this usually will not happen. However, intelligent discussion has to do with having a basic sense of respect for the other person’s ideas and beliefs; of course… all I ask in return, is a similar respect for my own ideas when they differ.

On another stage, in a very different world, another meaningful soul was lost; one which was a lot closer to my heart and hopes. This, to a road accident; an accident which will be forever in question for, despite official claims to the contrary, there are and will be doubts as to whether this was a true accident or a staged one.

Osvaldo Paya was a fighter in the mold of Gandhi; he believed in peacefully questioning and confronting an establishment which has choked a country for over a half a century. He believed there was a pressing need for change and, to this effect, he acted while others watched from afar, usually in fear of retaliation from the very government they would see change.

He founded the Christian Liberation Movement in 1987 and created a project for change, which he called Project Varela, in memory of a Cuban priest (Fr. Felix Varela) who dedicated his life to the liberation struggle against the Spanish rule and to teach generations of Cubans to think and to grow intellectually. Paya was able to collect a surprisingly high number (25,000) of signatures in a decidedly hostile environment and was internationally recognized with several prestigious awards. In doing this, he also guaranteed that his life would be in jeopardy.

The accident was and will always be questioned; the looks of the car involved show that it received a very heavy rear impact and, although it is not impossible to hit a tree with a position impact, it is highly convenient that this crushing blow was directly received on the side where this man was sitting. He had been the subject of more than one attempt by non-official, official elements before. Including having had his car run off the road by another car on more than one occasion.

Regardless… he is now a memory whose reason for living must be kept going. Although during his last years his connection to the newer, internet oriented generation was in question, the fact will always remain that he accomplished what no one else had before him: to bring the struggle for a wider blanket of freedom to the people of his country into the international stage. To have it discussed and questioned in those very circles where the intellectual left had always looked the other way when confronted with the realities of a very totalitarian and crushing system.

Be at peace… one from the left and one from the right. Each one arguing for their beliefs, their hopes and goals. My heart goes out to both families and, especially, to Mr. Paya’s family in Cuba and to those who lost a true champion of their potential rights. 

That’s all of us.

Be Well … Be Back!!!

Final Notes:
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