Fallen Hero.... Dr. Thompson

I got the call at 2:30 this morning informing me of Hunter S. Thompson's death by a self inflicted gunshot wound. Apparently a suicide but I also wouldn't be suprised if, given his penchant for handling firearms while extremely drunk, it were an accident. At least that's what I try to tell myself. The TV news of course mentions his authorship of "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" which is a fantastic piece of work but by far his best and most important work was his startling and brilliant political writing and his lifelong mission of warning Americans of the looming danger of fascism and the crimes and real agenda of the far right. It must have been hard for him to send out warning after warning for 30 years and to see things turn out the way they have. While current events are disturbingly similar to the textbook definition of fascism, thankfully we are still a long way from mobs of uniformed Republicans firebombing Democrat owned businesses and lynching their owners as happened in fascist Italy and other places through history.

Nonetheless he was the epitome of the qualities that (to me at least) define a great American- eccentric, defiant, free spirited and willing to stick his neck out in the defense of the ideals that truly represent the promise of democracy. Freedom of mind, freedom of spirit, opposition to bigotry and greed, and standing up for those of us who are powerless to control our own destiny. Regardless of what has been done in "our" name, and whether or not you approve of it, America is more than a place, it is more than a color scheme, it represents the possibility and the right of ALL people to prosper and live free.

We owe it to him to never give up and to stand up for what we believe and to realize the promise of humanity. We owe it to him, to Marting Luther King, to Bobby Kennedy, William Wallace, Che Guevara, Crazy Horse, our founding fathers, our veterans and all those who have stuck their necks out for the crazy ideas of freedom and justice.

So toss one back and toss one over your shoulder for the old man, this ain't over yet.....