The second anniversary of FredHjr’s death
[NOTE: This is a slightly edited version of a post I wrote last year.]
It hardly seems possible that two years have now passed since the tragic and untimely death of FredHJr, one of the most memorable and prolific commenters here. His loss to this community is a great one, and I miss him still. We could sorely use a large dose of his wit and wisdom.
The loss his family feels is far greater, and I am thinking of them today and hoping they have found comfort in the memory of his love and faith.
And now I will reprise some words I wrote two years ago when I first heard of Fred’s death:
Even though none of us actually met Fred in the real world, most of the regulars here knew FredHjr as I knew him””a brilliant mind containing knowledge of unusual depth and breadth, and demonstrating a rare ability to articulate his thoughts with precision, grace, and logic; a staunch patriot and passionate defender of liberty who never pulled his punches; a “changer” who had been a Marxist in his youth and held a vast storehouse of expertise on how the Left thinks and operates; a seeker of truth with an almost inexhaustible interest in the world around him; and a man of strong religious faith and great and abiding love for his family.
The news of his extremely untimely and tragic death comes as a great shock. It’s also a reminder that people here can become an important part of our lives; we feel as though we know them, even though our knowledge of them is only of the virtual sort. But minds meeting minds is a very powerful thing nonetheless.
[NOTE: Here’s another post about Fred.]
We miss him.
Neo:
Why is it that the sensible, honest, and smart folks go before their time…
And Stalin and Mao died in their beds at an advanced age.
Sheesh…
Wow-two years-still remember the suprise and sadness when you first posted he had died-time flys. He seemed like a good man.
” Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ” James 4:13-15 NIV Translation
Alas for Rochester, New Hampshire, and alas for us.
It is extraordinarily difficult to prophesy. As in difficult meaning impossible.
Prophecy requires the ability of master computer programmers’ to maintain the swirl of loops and nested loops, if-then statements, definitions and extraordinary complexions (probably best understood by “rainmen” types who underwhelm in other types of endeavors) and not become lost but find the answer.
Programmers are a herky jerky bunch of brontosauruses, rather benign as to explicitly causing much destruction, but their creations have much to demote them. We don’t know yet, but incoming data doesn’t look too good. The fantastic predictions of the 20th century of what our science would accomplish seem naive and even contemptible now. We have been deceived by well wishing and well meaning players, not to mention the bent and twisted players (“survival of the fittest”).
They did not prophesy. They lacked context. In fact, no-one but God has the context. They froze the moment and knowledge and tried to cease the confusing, swirling mass of data, of data, of data.
They lacked character, holiness. God is not declared love, but holy, first. Holiness is God’s character and that is why what he declares is shameful (homosexuality, abortion, socialism) is shameful.
Brilliance (results) equals ability plus character. I think that describes Fred. Character is a result of depth; on the other hand, shallow and self-serving decisions rob one of depth. Consider it God’s “man made” way of protecting man from himself.
Torah does not allow anyone to prophesy except in the name of the Lord. And then, one had better make sure he has heard from the Lord. The penalty of a false prediction is death.
Fred, of course, didn’t do this. He did not prophecy. He did not declare “in the name of the Lord,” or “in the name of Science.” He never presented, like science does today, absolute certainty.
Take acute and chronic intelligence (it must seem like a disease to the cultural Marxists) and add character (discipline, resolute study, objectivity, and moral decisions which allow peace of mind for clear thinking) and you get “someone you should listen to.” Read some of Fred’s thoughts, like the one Neo posted to. Here was a prediction:
“when they have to run on results the game is up”
Sounds pretty commons sense, but Fred said it before the misery that is descending upon us made that clear.Many people have given up; they accept that Obama will be President in 2012. I don’t think Fred would have done that even given the hegemony of media groupthink–maybe because of the hegemony of media groupthink.
Anyway, his prediction of the 2012 results gives me comfort and fightin spirit!
I never had the chance to encounter Fred, as I seem to have made my debut here too late.
I wish I’d been earlier. But the fact that I wasn’t won’t stop me from joining neo and the other commenters here, such as Curtis and Oblio, whom I have had the fortune to meet, in a salute to Fred – a man who so obviously has been an essential part of the music made in the mystic memory-chords of our virtual home, namely, right here.
Beyond that, I probably have no base from which to speak, so let me just say:
Rest in Peace, Fred.
When this blog was young, Fred was among the first and fiercest. He battled the lib trolls who initially infested this site with heart and clarity and remains an example to us all. His example proved that you never waver in your beliefs and in the Right way of doing things and, in time, you will make your opinion respected.
Two years since Fred died. An inch of time, yet a time of many political earthquakes. There has been much sound and fury, but Fred was right (if a bit conservative) about 2010.
May we all be as thoughtful and wise as Fred. Gone but not forgotten. RIP, Fred.
Thank you all for remembering my brother. It’s difficult to believe it’s already been two years. I miss our talks of politics, history, sports, etc. He had so much knowledge. I always thought he was a little pessimistic, I think I was just more optimistic and he was closer to reality. He would’ve been very happy about the Bruins winning the Cup! His favorite team and sport. Again, thank you. He is dearly missed by his family. RIP big brother!
Fred would want us to keep our eyes on the main issue.
On that in April 2009, I asked, “What to do if the lawyers become lawless?”
Now we have a story about Wisconsin Supreme Court judges coming to blows in chambers over the decision to overturn–as an unconstutional “usurpation” of the legislature’s authority–Judge Sumi’s decision to block publication of Walker’s pension reform law:
http://althouse.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-stupidevil-was-bill-luederss-attack.html
There is concern that the Administration intends to force through its regulatory power the DREAM Act provisions that it can’t get into statute:
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/168475-smith-bill-would-freeze-obama-administrations-power-to-grant-amnesty-to-illegal-immigrants?page=3#comments
Libya and the War Powers Act? Don’t get me started.
We can make the list as long as needed to make the point.
Little “r” republican government is at bottom an insistence that no one is above the law. The Democrats largely act as if they own the law, and the law means just what they say it means, no more and no less.
If the Republic falls, it will do so in a courtroom.
s/b “on that thread in April 2009”
David Hunt,
My thoughts are with you. It does us all good to remember that we can never know what parts of us will live on in the conscious and unconscious of those we have touched. Fred touched many here and enriched us.
Expat Said: “Fred touched many here and enriched us.”
Well said Expat, he sure did, among the rich and varied commentariat that Neo has built here, nobody has stepped up to match Fred’s financial expertise yet, I often wonder what he would say about today’s situation with the deficit spending etc….sure do miss him.
I suppose we all have friends we’ll never meet on earth. Kindred spirits who share similar values but the brevity of this life doesn’t allow that we get around to all of them. Fred was one of those. And i fully expect to finally meet him under the most wonderful of circumstances one day.
David Hunt — He is missed by many people, including me like so many others who have commented. He was indeed fierce in his beliefs and and an enthusiastic sharer of his thoughts, but he also paid attention to that which others wrote and frequently took the time to comment directly to a fellow commenter. He was an integral part of the community that neo has fostered and that is just one of the reasons he is missed a great deal.
But I can’t believe it is two years! And what a two years it has been. If Fred has been watching from wherever he is, I would so love to hear what he would have to say — especially about Obama & Co. and the economy! I’m sure he would have some choice words to share with the rest of us!
He really was an earnest and good fellow, informed about not just current events, but history, too. Every so often while reading here I still find myself thinking about him and what he would have to say. Indeed he is missed.