Today, we remember, the 2,979 killed in both the terror attacks of 9/11 and in the oft-overlooked anthrax bio-terror attacks on American soil which occurred in the following weeks, along with all of those who have given their lives in defense of this nation and its Constitution, including the 5,679 U.S. troops who have been sacrificed so far in George W. Bush’s (and now Barack Obama’s) wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — a number which does not include the countless U.S. contractors who have also perished in those conflicts.
As a veteran of Vietnam, my friend and colleague John Gideon, whom we tragically lost late last month, was a champion not just of voters’ rights, but of all the causes of his fellow veterans and active-duty brothers and sisters.
Today, The BRAD BLOG’s first Memorial Day without his valued presence, we dedicate this day to his memory, his undying fight, and his soaring spirit.
I thought it would be appropriate today, then, to offer the recent Part 2 of Talk Nation Radio’s moving audio tribute to the legacy of our friend John. As in Part 1 of Dori Smith’s radio special, I appear once again, along with VotersUnite.org’s Ellen Theisen and John himself, in both voice and memory. Also, good friend and longtime election integrity advocate Pokey Anderson, of Houston Pacifica’s KPFT, speaks about John and his legacy in this part as well. All four of us are seen in the photo below, taken by Desi Doyen, last summer during a few hours of wonderful retreat up in Washington state. It would be the last time all five of us would be together in person.
Download MP3 or listen online [appx. 30 mins]…
[audio:http://bradblog.com/audio/TalkNationRadio_DoriSmith_EllenTheisen_BradFriedman_PokeyAnderson_InMemoryofJohnGideon_Part2_051309.mp3]
Post-Script: I just noticed that this article’s permalink happens to be BRAD BLOG item number ‘7176’ — an oddly appropriate ‘anagramatical’ coincidence for you numerologists out there. Make of that as you will…
~ John Gideon and his Bible of voting irregularities Will Long Be Remembered . . . ~
Hadn’t heard about John since I have been distracted with upheavals in my own life recently. Just want to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and say that his links have been invaluable to my own election education.
I truly appreciate the work that John put into keeping us all informed. He will be sadly missed.
Terrorist attacks on 911??!!!! What are you talking about. There were no commercial planes on 911. It was all a lie. Wake Up! The war on terror is based on a murderous lie.
John, You will be sorely missed by so many of us. Thank you Brad and Desi for documenting this. Hey Brad, I’m not a numerologist, so not sure of the significance of 7176 (probably something quite obvious).
Perhaps “1776” ?