I knew it... This wasn't Joe's style at all to leave like that without a word. I just hoped I was wrong, as usual, because I know my intuition rarely betrays when it comes to the worst. And I wasn't...
My condolences go to his loved ones and I will definitely miss him, not just as a friend or a fellow user. I do hope he did not have to go through suffering or died because of irresponsible people living "their lifestyle" no matter the risks involved, in a full-blown pandemic crisis that was only taken care of responsibly by a handful of Eastern countries desperately trying to remind others that NO, freedom is NOT a right. Freedom is a privilege, a privilege hundreds of millions died for, in all countries, and some did not even make it, but they will not give up, and they will not make up their own meaning of it when they eventually reach it. It took aeons to forge, structure, defend and protect. And if you deliberately abuse your freedom to infect others and pretend it's not your fault, it's still a crime, and rest assured you will be sentenced for it, in one way or another.
I am crying right now, and this does not happen often. Those won't be the last tears, but I do want everyone to know they are tears of rage, frustration and concern about how oblivious everyone is to what we have to go through right now and make it look exaggerated. Even some experts don't quite seem to get it, but by now we're used to "hey now, don't ring alarms" and putting on our tinfoil hats, right...
Even though I've long stopped believing in anything, my prayers are with you, Joe. May your soul rest in peace, because even if just like all of us, you did bad things, we'll always remember you for what you did for all of us. For the community. For your friends. For your family.
I've always said I wanted to leave this wretched world without a single soul mourning, because grief is all what's left for the living to endure and this is the hardest part as you give your final breath if you have even the tiniest bit of empathy, but I will not allow myself to speak for the ones who are no longer with us. That said, something tells me he would not want us to give up. I can't promise that, but I will keep fighting injustice and real life suffering to the bitter end and I will not allow anyone to destroy what we have fought so hard to build, what we have given our lives for. Like many of us will, I'm sure, in our own ways.
Again, may your soul rest in peace, Joe...
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