[published on July 6, 2006 in "The Flatland Oracles", my previous blog]
Is it just me? I find the following most distasteful (as well as in extremely poor taste).
Ross M. Levine: May He Lay in Peace. Kenneth Lay, dead? Did we hear right? Felled by heart stoppage in the night? [The Huffington Post | Raw Feed]
The worst thing is that it isn't even great as a piece of satire---it goes on for too long and loses whatever bite it might have had. Presumably this Levine was in a hurry and wanted to be first in the field.
Setting aside my more-expert-opinions-may-differ literary reservations, I HATE IT when my fellow Democrats and nonRepublicans behave in the patented Republican manner (gloating over the death of criminals; gloating over the downfall of 'enemies.') I don't believe in the death penalty. If Ken Lay had been executed for the harm he did, I would find it disgusting. I am sorry that he has died and put himself beyond the reach of any chance to redeem himself.
Marginally better, but only marginally, is this:
Russell Shaw: Don't rejoice over Ken Lay's death-learn from it instead.
[beginning of quoted material from Huffington Post raw feed]
It is a fair bet that at least in a few of the households where Enron's financial antics caused 401 (k)s to crash and retirement hopes to be dashed- these words will be uttered tonight- "he got what he deserved."....My personal feeling is that whatever it, or who, it is that metes out death is beyond our understanding. As a more practical matter, I also believe that expressing gratitude over the death of one that has ruined your life - an ex-spouse, a bad business partner, a convicted executive such as Lay- is nothing but vengeance. We, and you, can do better.
[end of quoted material from HuffPo's raw feed]
This commendable restraint is, regrettably, followed by a short sermon regarding the connection between (what? Lay's death?) and the author's commendable agenda. As I say, it's better than the first...but still offensive in the circumstances.
We can do better; we can shut up and recognize for whom the bell tolls. As Russell Shaw states, death doesn't prove anything about Ken Lay or anyone else. I wish he'd left it there; then I'd be 100% behind him.
Anyway: SHUT UP, GLOATERS AND CERTAIN SANCTIMONIOUS MORALIZERS NOT QUOTED HERE.
That's the Republicans' game. I'm all for going after the crooks and liars until they have been brought to their knees, but it's wrong to keep kicking someone who is down.
And you can't be more down than dead.
The 'lesson' to be learned from Ken Lay's death is this: If you've got to feel something, feel pity and terror. That is the appropriate response when hubris levels the proud, as the ancient Greeks knew. It is much more cathartic than gloating or sanctimony.
How do you expect me to go on saying THANK GOD I'M A DEMOCRAT when you give me THIS to cope with?
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