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I have periodically considered starting a web site which I would call GreatAmericanDead and devote to one post a day on some of the absolutely remarkable people who often become anonymous in the years leading up to their deaths when, instead, they should be followed, studied, respected. At least the occasion of their death, especially when theirs was a full and happy life, gives us an opportunity to learn about someone we wish we could have known of sooner.
This is the way I feel today about Charles Chu, a professor of Chinese at Connecticut College, who passed away yesterday. I am proud that my alma mater has done such a fine job of memorializing this exceptional artist, a man who apparently had tremendous energy, spirit and incredible talent (even if only judging from the work he left behind).
Chu, who was 90, was active until three weeks ago. He was probably very active! Watch in this video how much energy he has only six years ago. I’m sad I never really knew of him before this. He retired before I attended CC. I think it would have been something to have been taught by him.
Some of Chu’s work, much of which is visible at his web site, Little Frog, his childhood name:
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There was recently a very big blowout with a couple race related posts. The posts were removed at my request. Josh was then compelled to put them back up. It’s Josh’s Web site, so I respect the decsion.
Yet, without explanation, I feel as though previous comments and subsequent posts lack proper context.
Here’s how it works, folks. We all take different positions along the political spectrum and try to have a nice balance of opinion. Sometimes, in order to stimulate the debate, we’ll adopt aliases. Amy, you know how you like what Keith has to say? Well that’s just me, posting the other side of the conversation. If the other American Madness posters want to pull the masks and reveal themselves, that’s up to them.
Posting as I often do as the right of center voice on this board, led down a path of particular peril for my reputation. I divide the fault between myself and Josh, as he should have done a better job editing subsequent posts to remove specific references to comments I made. Josh knows how we post and should have done more to protect my reputation.
But he didn’t.
The mistake I’ve made is that I put my real name next to my posts. And unfortunately, I am cursed with a unique name. Rather, I should’ve just adopted a concatenation of my middle name and the street I grew up on, like Paul Woodland, and adopt it as my nom de plume.
Anyway, it’s gotten entirely too personal for me now. As I told Josh, I’m out.
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Interesting little tidbit from the NY Times (and actually I thought it amusing back when the West Wing was on that they had a minority candidate win the presidential election. I didn’t think we were a progressive enough nation for that… now I am hoping we are).
Also, what are your thoughts on how the recent violence in India, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan and how it will (or will not) effect Tuesday’s outcomes?
Please discuss below
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Clearly we can’t discuss race here. I’m not getting in the middle of it. Posts down. Crap.
