Roll Call of the Dead
"Journalists" love anything that can be wrapped neatly in a box. The less thought that they have to give to it the better. Hence, right after Christmas and before New Year's Day we can present the annual Roll Call of the Dead. And if you're a celebrity and you die on New Year's Eve, somewhere around 10:30 ET, tough. You missed the "Dead"-line. And no, you won't make next year's list either.
Half the people on The New York Times list of notables you couldn't pick out of a lineup at the local drunk tank and a quarter of those left over you probably thought died years ago.
Still, we love to pour over the list, to shake a memory or two, somewhere between the man who sang about Moonriver and the guy who actually got to walk there. We lost a man who became an unfortunate verb and twenty young lives that will be used for a political crusade over which they knew nothing in their short time on Earth. (And we lost 53,000 other children whose parents will grieve no less and who will only be a brief mention in a local newspaper because their disease or unfortunate accidental death advances no political agenda or media career.)
It was also the year of the sports suicide, where we learn that there may be more to the violent collisions that entertain us. And while football names like Seau, Belcher and Easterling dominate the headlines, even a baseball player will pay the price for a concussion, or two, or twelve.
And we have losses in our own lives as well. We both mourn and celebrate. We console ourselves that these are not endings but passages. We know that love endures.
If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night -- amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours - always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.
(D)o not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.
- Sullivan Ballou in a letter to his wife, Sarah, before the Battle of Bull Run (July the 14th, 1861)
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Comments:
Dec '11
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
Thanks EJ for having more than one register. Well done!
Aug '12
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
Thank you for that beautiful Civil War quote EJ.
Feb '12
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
I liked Cracked's list of not-so-notable deaths, including:
May '10
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
It was brought to the attention to Ken Burns and made famous in his Civil War series and it's inclusion in the film and the music CD, it was read by actor Paul Roebling.
Sullivan Ballou was a Major from Rhode Island and would be completely forgotten had he not felt compelled to tell his wife how much he loved her. Sarah never remarried and died in 1917.
Of course, one should never let the facts get in the way of a good story, especially for Burns. There are five copies of Sullivan's letter and none seem to be in his handwriting, so the provenance of the piece is open to question. It does not, however, distract from its beauty.
Edited on December 28, 2012 at 8:23pmJun '10
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
The Ballou quote is one of my favorites. If it's not true, it should be.
I did look through the NYT list. One name is well-worth a mention.
Hilton Kramer (died in March) was perhaps New York's greatest art critic when he decided many years ago to create a conservative journal of the arts: New Criterion.
Kramer was a strong voice for great art that moves the human spirit, and his journal lives on under the able hands of Roger Kimball. If you don't subscribe, you should.
May '10
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
Amy, agreed - I'd add Gad Beck, the Holocaust survivor.
Amy Schley: I liked Cracked's list of not-so-notable deaths, including: · 8 hours ago
Dec '10
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
I never see any year-end 'roll call of the dead' without thinking of whichever Academy Awards host it was (perhaps Billy Crystal?) who commented, after the annual Oscar tribute to those who have passed on, that perhaps they should do a similar reminiscence each year to those who we all thought were dead, but actually weren't, yet . . .
Also, thank you for the lovely Civil War quote. When Sullivan Ballou's widow died in 1917, my Uncle Arthur was 10 years old, and my Great Grandmother was 48. Both of them were exceptionally long-lived, and I remember them well. I love to do the math, and realize, for the umpteenth time, how very young this country is.
To absent friends and loved ones, everywhere . . .
Nov '11
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
Thank you, EJ!
Apr '11
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
This country is amazingly young. My profile picture is of my Great great grandfather a CSA Colonel, I also have a Great Grandfather who lost his right leg in that war. Not much longer and we will all be in the not so distant past. Of course we didn't have that perspective just a few measly years ago.
Apr '11
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
By the way the leg was lost fighting for the other side.
May '10
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
An amazing number of those folks must be on there solely because they were on the dinner party Rolodex of some NYT staffer.
Jun '12
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
Excellent reflection, sir. And that Ballou letter never fails to stir the soul to its foundations.
May '11
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
EJ, you rightly mentioned the 20 young lives to be used as political fodder. It is disgusting that those using them as such are so adamant in supporting the killing of 3200 children per day in America.
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
Checked the list. I'm not on it. Another good year...if I can hang on till until Tuesday.
Oct '12
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
Does that mean I can still buy a vowel Pat?
Mar '11
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
Huh... I wasn't on the list either. Does that mean I'm not dead or not famous?
Edited on December 29, 2012 at 6:35amMay '10
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
Casey - I think you hit the daily double.
Dec '11
Re: Roll Call of the Dead
It just means you have eight lives left. :-)
Casey: Huh... I wasn't on the list either. Does that mean I'm not dead or not famous? · 3 hours ago
Edited 2 hours ago