Andy Stephenson's Obituary

[BeHereNow]

Dear DU,
Don't know if this has been posted yet,
I was out of town for a night, but found this
email in my inbox from George Howland (Seattle Weekly)
just now- it is quite beautiful and includes an excerpt
from Will's "rage" post.

BHN

"A Fight to the End
Voting rights activist Andy Stephenson dies at age 43.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0528/050713_news_andy.php

Please post and forward freely.

George Howland, Jr.
Seattle Weekly, Political Editor"

[cry baby]

1. Thank you...

:(

[Maat]

2. That's a great obituary.

I'm sad, but that made me feel a bit better somehow; Andy is immortalized and will always be remembered fondly a many, many people.

Rest in peace, Andy. I pray that there were family members and loved ones waiting for you on the other side.

[Booster]

3. Wow, that's a really nice write up. Thanks for posting this.

[evlbstrd]

4. god rest Andy.

[DELUSIONAL]

5. This part by Will Pitt needs repeating --

I missed his post the first time around.

Reaction to Stephenson's death by his Internet friends was swift. Wrote Will Pitt, in a post on Democratic Underground directed at Stephenson's accusers: "I am going to make you famous in all the worst kinds of ways. I know your names, I know your addresses, I know your IP numbers, I have screen shots and copies of every vile statement and threat you ever made. I know everything I need to know. Get ready for the ram."

[OKDem08]

6. delusional

Ghandi avatar?
Forgive & move forward, my friend.

[juajen]

7. What they did is so despicable

As far as I'm concerned, they killed Andy. I hope his suffering haunts them forever. I'm with Will.

[thecrow]

8. okdem08

You obviously don't understand the situation.
Delusional was quoting Will Pitt and yes, the anger Will has vocalized *IS* legitimate.

Peace, Andy.

[OKDem08]

10. I'm new here so I'll read about Andy & his contributions

then follow-up. I just see the Freepers as the voice of hate, not us at DU & would like to maintain my perception.

[RandomKoolzip]

19. ".....would like to maintain my perception. "

Hmmmm. I'd think it'd be more important to "maintain facts" than "perceptions."

The facts are that there was a right wing site that tried to deny a terminal cancer patient access to medical care because of that cancer patient's political views.

Then, when we on DU started to raise a lot of money to help said terminal cancer patient, they utilized fraud and pranks to derail that effort and raise unfounded suspicions.

THEN, the owners of that right-wing site claimed that the terminal cancer patient faked his death and is living on a tropical island somewhere, despite the lack of a single shred of evidence to back up their claims.

That's really all you need to know to "maintain (your) perception." Enjoy your stay.

[Oversea Visitor]

9. This is not a political issue

This has malice all over
Intention to obstruct prevent aid to a needy person in a live threatening suituation is just pure evil malicious intent.

ANDY DIED. Operation was delay for like 3 weeks is what I read.
Would it have make a different I would not know.

No, they must face what they have done.
Somethings are forgiveable, but somthings cannot be allowed.

[DELUSIONAL]

11. Will Pitt's remarks are appropriate

He will get even. What is that saying?? Don't get mad -- get even.

Play nice -- be nice -- forget it -- this is a new world and they are playing for keeps.

THIS is exactly what the freeper, right wing scum bags expect from Liberals, for us to roll over and expect to get kicked on the other side. No more -- these creeps have crossed the line.

I have the full expectation that Will knows exactly what to do -- and he has the full backing of real liberals.

Sort of like Christ beating the crap out of the money changes in the temple.

Go Will Go -- Andy will be cheering you on! Andy was a fighter -- that's why we know him at DU -- because he was a fighter for truth and Justice. Will is a fighting LIBERAL!

[Tigress DEM]

15. Whoa, dude!

I understand that Will's passion is commendable and that he will "out" the truth and the liars, but even though I just defended you up post, I'm going to say, slow down and think this through.

Ghandi went on a hunger strike to bring attention to his cause. He didn't get out and go all "Rambo" on anyone and neither did Christ.

Christ got mad in the temple, he picked up and hurled HUGE tables and shouted at the money changers to, "Get Out!" but he was a carpenter's son, tall and muscular from downing and then lugging trees back to the workshop to make things. He NEVER "beat anyone up" even the scum who made a mockery of His Father's house. I haven't seen Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion" so maybe that's where you are getting your artistic liberty from, but it NEVER happened.

We can stand up to these liars and scum without backing down, but we don't have to get violent to accomplish our goals, not even verbally. Our goals are admirable and we should be as well.

We are on the "right" side of history not because we are insanely pursuing some thing adverse to the wrong thing, but just as skewed. We are on the right side of history because we care about the common man and feel the need to pull together for a better solution.

If we want better health care and NO ONE to have to go through what Andy did, then that is the focus we must maintain. Beating up the people who did this is that "second wrong" that doesn't make a right that your momma probably talked to you about when you were a kid.

Hold them accountable for their deeds, but spend your energy focusing on the solution or you just become another liberal frothing at the mouth that the press uses to dismiss us. Solid. Concrete. We must be dedicated to the solution in such a solid way as to brook no doubt that we are all about that and that our personal grief is a valid side bar, but NOT the focus... and certainly NOT revenge.

Andy deserves better than us spinning our wheels in revenge. His death should mobilize people to DO the thing that needs to be done.

[Fovea]

12. I see no equivalency between non-violence

and capitulation to evil.

Indeed, struggling against evil is the hallmark of Ghandi's life.
He believed in non-violent resistance.

Will did not suggest that we brutalize the less-than-human animals who baited Andy until his final hour.

That's more my style. I personally think they should stagger through the remainder of their pathetic lives without kneecaps, but I do not pretend to the enlightenment of a Ghandi.

[Tigress DEM]

16. Martial Arts stresses not having to use your fighting skills....

Akido is supposedly the art of peace, because you are taught such deadly manuvers that you have the responsibility to not use them except in true self defense and even then, morally you should still try to talk some sense into your attacker so you don't have to break something important.

Knowing your power is often enough. I read one story in the Bible where Christ was going to be stoned or attacked and He simply walked away. He knew His power and didn't succumb to fear or their judgement and walked off with His head held high. I remember thinking that I wanted to be like Him in that way - to believe enough that I didn't let the gangs and such intimidate me.

I later learned that he was like 6 foot and very muscular from being a carpenter's son and I thought of someone like Mr T walking out of that kind of fight and all the others breathing a sigh of relief.

Good thing I didn't learn that until later, because in many ways that attitude of not allowing someone to make me a victim helped me a lot.

[Tigress DEM]

14. Speaking the truth and holding people accountable...

isn't necessarily against Ghandi's philosophy. Hating them, hurting them is, but speaking the truth and letting the consequenses happen naturally is part of moving forward with a closure that is necessary before forgiveness can happen.

After all, if someone isn't sorry for what they have done, how can you forgive them? You need to put the truth out there and look at it, accept it and then even if someone doesn't accept their part you can choose to let that be their issue and let it go.

Forgiveness without process is stuffing down your anger and denying the truth.

[checks-n-balances]

18. This is how I interpret what Will wrote...

And I say WROTE because that's one of his greatest gifts. He verbalizes in print what many of us are thinking.

IMHO, his other two greatest gifts, at least on the internet, are:

1. Ability to read between the lines and separate the truth from the BS.

2. Willingness & courage to follow up his words with corrective action.

I don't read him as advocating physical vengence, but going through lawful channels to bring about justice and accountability. I just hope we can still depend upon our courts to mete out justice.

Just my $.02 worth. Also, I appreciate this thread.

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Wow not your standard obit at all. But it does him justice.

:hug: for Andy O8)

[Paradise]

17. still can't believe it...

thank you.

[Bethany Rockafella]

20. Rest in peace, my brother.