Yesterday in the
Kill The Fitzmas Talk diary, I wrote something that was soundly ignored. I almost hoped it might get a "marginal" or a "party pooper" comment, but not a peep. Then I reposted a piece of the comment in a later pro-Fmas (this term will be used from this point on for obvious reasons), and still, nothing.
I have to admit I wondered why the two comments sat there like slabs in their respective diaries generating no response whatsoever. Did they become lost in the celebratory comments? Lumped in with the party poopers, but not offensive enough to pay attention to? Was I late to the party, yet again?
I am weary of all the Fmas junk and the reason for that is that I've come to have a great deal of respect for Mr. Fitzgerald and no longer feel comfortable co-opting his name and his work for my schadenfruede, no matter how entitled I feel to it. This is not about me. It's not about my hatred for BushCo, it's not about my pleasure at seeing them fall.
So, since I have diary space to do so I'm going to take my third swing at this and ask if anyone can find flaw in my position that the Fmas has turned from a bit of fun that came at a time when we really needed it, transformed into something tedious, and should be winding down now out of simple respect.
I understand that to expect decorum from a group of people such as ourselves, who have been beaten and battered by the criminals currently under the gaze of justice is asking an awful lot. I do. So I'll not ask for decorum, although I do wish for it.
Fmas started as a celebration. And it was great. Acting like giddy children (albeit prematurely) felt like a release, especially after all of the darkness we've endured. I was enjoying the carols and diaries as much as anyone. Some of them were simply brilliant. At the time I figured Fmas had a blog fad shelf life of 24-36 hours. If it had, it would have been perfect.
My problem with this bit of cleverness is that now it simply feels like we are being disrespectful to the lawyers (especially Mr. Fitzgerald) who are prosecuting this case. Because of its staying power, Fmas has the unfortunate effect of trivializing the seriousness of the charges. It's no longer about a bit of release, it has taken on the guise of a movement; one with photoshopped pictures, greetings, songs and stories ad nauseam.
Would all this jumping about, joking, singing songs and so forth be appropriate on the night before indictments were handed down for, say, someone in the administration accused of commiting a murder?
If not, why is this okay? People, did, after all, die because of the malfeasance of this administration. In this case we don't know who died. Does it make a difference? I guess what I'm really asking is: Would being happy that justice was served without all the trimmings, songs and high fives be any less meaningful? Would it be any less satisfying?
I'm not Patrick Fitzgerald, but if I were I'd be pretty pissed at the trivialization of something I worked on for more than a year of my life; something with far reaching effects that could change the future of a nation.
Maybe he'd think it funny. Seems he has a good sense of humor. Somehow I doubt it though; this is possibly one of the most sensitive and serious cases he has handled, and probably will handle in his career. The ramifications, no matter what the Grand Jury decision, will have a tremendous effect on his life from here on out.
I know the reasons for the celebration. I understand the reasons for the celebration. I just don't agree with the method. Especially not all the cute names based on the last name of a guy who, in my opinion, deserves much better from us.
So, no, I will not tell you to STFU about Fmas. It's a free country. But I would like to request that you just take a moment to ask yourself something. Ask yourself if the man who worked his butt off to get this case to this point--without the leaks and without all the political bullshit that is usually standard operating procedure in cases as important as this--Does this man really deserve to have his name and work turned into what amounts to a schadenfruedepalooza for our pleasure?
If you say yes, well, not much I can do about that. My personal plans are to boycott (ooooo, bet that has you quaking in yer boots /snark) any diary, regardless of how much I respect the author if they use Fmas in the title or the diary. It's the least I can do.
What it comes down to is simple respect for a man and his work.
That is all.