RIP -- Consequential Person Has Passed Away

https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/famous-person-is-dead-r-i-p-r.1687144/page-194

Maybe we need to sticky this thread? I know, it is not within P&CE.

 

I see no reason not to, but that wouldn't/shouldn't affect the thread here.

 

A girl named Kim is the only reason I have any sort of fondness for even one Sedaka song (Laughter In The Rain). I mean, I'm not happy to see dude die, but I am at this moment realizing that I really didn't much care for anything he did. That's kind of rare for a musician with as many hits as he had. And I have tons of love for some other songs from his era and style (Eric Carmen's Never Gonna Fall In Love Again fits Sedaka to a tee, but I love that tune), just not so much his.

 

“Diffuse thermal injury” makes it sound so much less horrible than burning to death. Yikes.

 

This Bozo's dead

 

A great American & civil rights leader, Norman Francis. 94.

Norman C. Francis, the stalwart city leader in civil rights, business and education who led Xavier University for nearly half a century, died early Wednesday morning (Feb. 18) at Oschner Hospital. He was 94 years old.

One of the most influential figures in New Orleans’ recent history, Francis played key roles in both integration efforts of the local civil rights movement and recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina. Though Francis built his career and his life in New Orleans, he garnered national and global recognition for his civic work: He was the recipient of dozens of honorary degrees and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and advised eight U.S. presidents on issues of education and civil rights.

https://veritenews.org/2026/02/18/norman-c-francis-xavier-liberty-obituary/

 

Yeah, love the stories of people who don't take "no" for an answer and trailblaze their own way. Especially people who've faced big obstacles like Jim Crow, poverty, the glass ceiling, discrimination based on who they are, etc. To name just a few.

To contrast, Donnie's big lovely obituary will have nothing in common with that of Mr. Francis. Basically the complete opposite.

 

Isky Iskendarian, RIP.

 

RIP

 

Bummer, Man.

 

Ernie Anastos

 

https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/r...y-influential-person-has-passed-away.2138070/

 

Well, come on all of you, big strong men
Uncle Sam needs your help again
He's got himself in a terrible jam
Way on over in that Iran
So put down your books and pick up a gun
We're gonna have a whole lotta fun

And it's one, two, three
What are we fighting for?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn
Next stop is that Iran
And it's five, six, seven
Open up the pearly gates
Well there ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee! we're all gonna die

 

I posted here in P&CE several years ago about Aussie sprinter Peter Norman, I think, either that or I mentioned his passing in my signature. Anyway, Norman's moment of glory was winning silver between Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968 and offering to stand with his own fist raised. He belongs here, damn that he's not famous. Kaep belongs here when his time comes.

Wnen you consider the connection between music and politics, between music and the experiences of the oppressed, it's not going to be easy for any of us to agree on what "consequential" is. Is it the number of hits that address political issues? Do these people have their careers reduced to "entertainment"?

Cultures and demographics that don't have any power to influence their destinies often make those very political experiences the centerpiece of their art. I would not want to have seen Gil Scott-Heron excluded from this thread when he died because he was not part of the race that can count on being elected to public office or nudged into the CEO's office. Same goes for athletes.

Lobby for a name change instead of demanding adherence to a description that defaults to White male. People can be consequential to different people for different reasons.

 

I get that you have a bee in your bonnet here,

… but …

You posted this in response to the “Keep F********ing that Chicken” guy?

Also, I clearly made that other thread in jest. I even used smilies.

 

Jürgen Habermas - 96

Probably the most influential German philosopher in the post WWII era and one of the biggest proponents of a unified Europe.

 

Impressive life span, but Gadamer made it to 102.

 

Can't say I've ever heard of him. But RIP anyway.

 

He was going to be the in the line up representing the German philosophers vs. the classical Greek philosophers, but Martin Luther opted to go with Franz Beckenbauer instead (“a bit of a surprise there” for sure).

 

Needs video