There are some people, not a lot, who make you feel much better just knowing that they are in the world doing their thing. These are mainly the quirky people who have no use for conventions and rules. Artists and activists and harmless kooks with strange hobbies. Warm-hearted people who mean no one any harm and who have original vision and hope for the future. Hell, even some slackers, like The Dude.
THE STRANGER: The Dude abides.
I don’t know about you, but I take
comfort in that. It’s good knowin’
he’s out there, the Dude, takin’ her
easy for all us sinners. Shoosh. I
sure hope he makes The finals. Welp,
that about does her, wraps her all
up.Things seem to’ve worked out
pretty good for the Dude’n Walter,
and it was a purt good story, dontcha
think?Made me laugh to beat the band. Parts, anyway. Course–I didn’t like seein’ Donny go. But
then, happen to know that there’s a
little Lebowski on the way. I guess
that’s the way the whole durned human
comedy keeps perpetuatin’ it-self,
down through the generations, westward
the wagons, across the sands a time until…
Even though he was the opposite of a slacker, that’s kind of how I felt about Ben Masel, a friend of mine who has just died at the too-young age of fifty-six. I met Ben at the Yearly Kos convention in Las Vegas, and I always looked forward to spending time with him at the annual Netroots Nation conferences. We didn’t talk much. Mainly, a random email or comment in a Facebook thread. But I didn’t need to talk to Ben to be comforted by his presence. Now he’s gone.
I like this profile from OPOL (One Pissed Off Liberal), who I met in Chicago and whose warmth and spirit also give me comfort.
You can see the love that Ben inspired on his Facebook page.
The world won’t be the same without you, Ben. Rest in peace.
Nice of you to remember Ben this way.
I only met him online & I also liked OPOL`s tribute.
For his young age, he seems to have been an activist for many more years than many others combined.
I thought this song was appropriate. I can guarantee that sometimes when I’m doing simple things around the house I will think about him and smile.
Thank you for this post. I was shocked to read on kos this morning that he had passed. Did not realize he was ill and the news was a shock. I knew and respected him from his comments on dailykos. Wish I’d had the privilege of meeting him in person.
I love his sign. “This is a test of the emergency free speech system.”
Our DSL crapped out and I finally made it here on dial up. Very sorry to read this. Too young is right. Only a few years older than me.
I’m sitting here on my patio in our cabin on a hill in the woods, and suddenly, for no obvious reason, there is a Fourth of July-style fireworks display I am watching through the leaves in the trees.
Must be for Ben.
We could use a lot more friends like him. Its an honor to be “an official pain in the ass”. RIP Ben Masel ~ thank you for who and what you were.
I first become aware of Ben Masel in the 70’s. Why, yes, I was a dirty fucking hippie and I read alternative newspapers and subcultural zines. His name showed up in news reports and sometimes as a by-line. I knew people who knew him. Hell, I may have even met him once but, ya’know, those days are kinda hazy. heh.
So I remember when I first saw his name on Daily Kos, like when I first saw Meteor Blades’ name, I got a little frisson of recognition, I knew these guys were real counter-cultural heroes. I wasn’t a friend; I was just one among the many people who paid attention to them.
I’m going to miss his clever battles with da’Man and I really hate it when people younger than I am die from diseases that should have killed me already.