We received a message that passed through moderation without our notice:
Carl Finlayson passed away Early Friday April 16, 2010. He had left the Klan, and had chosen to do his best to become a better person. Sadly, he took his own life. He felt that the world would be a much better place without him. His guilt and shame plagued him.There are some who have claimed that Finlayson, who was originally from Prince Edward Island, had not reformed, however we would prefer to believe that he did. What can we say? We're eternal optimists who choose to believe that people can change.
Hopefully this will provoke some of the others who are involved in the BOK or the Canadian KKK (more like a few guys from Regina KKK) to realize how this hate and anger can lead someone to no longer want to live. How this life and loss of life has affected and possbily [sic] ruined the lives of so many people, including his very own children. May he rest in peace.
Whatever might be said about Finlayson, he leaves behind two young children who shouldn't be without a father.
At first I thought this post was going to be some kind of weird, twisted happy dance--no offence, but this isn't the most mature of blogs at times--but I am glad you see you took the high road on this one. I really hope the man was on his way to becoming a better person, as perhaps then he may have had a final few words for his children on the subject. I also really hope this invokes some serious thought in other Klansman and members of the Aryan Guard, etc., though I am not all that optimistic.
ReplyDeleteAs Donne said: "any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind."
ReplyDeleteYa, too bad you couldn't prove he hadn't reformed, that way you could justify a subtle celebration of his death like you usually do on this blog.
ReplyDelete"He felt that the world would be a much better place without him. His guilt and shame plagued him."
Mmhmm. Whoever sent this message, I would like to know how they came to make this observation.
Anonymous 1: We know we can be childish and often sarcastic, but we know there is a time and a place. This wasn't the time or the place for it. We are genuinely sorry to hear of his passing.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 2: To answer the last question first, we assume that whomever sent us the message in April was close to Karl.
As for a, "subtle celebration" we can't think of any time when we have commented favorably on a death. We suppose you can make a case that we did when referring to our "Dead Nazi Day" commemoration and a poster concerning the self-immolation of Robert Matthews, though.
In reality, the Collective is actually even more saddened when someone dies while still harboring racist beliefs. We really do believe that people can change, and the loss of an individual still steeped in racist ideologies compounds the tragedy in our minds.
Perhaps you think we're being inscincere. That's your perogative.
I cannot imagine bearing the weight of the sorrow, guilt and self-loathing one must feel in order to prematurely end their own life and believe that such an action is for the betterment of the world.
ReplyDelete