A Flash Memorial For Andy Stephenson by Symbolman - With Love from TBTM

[symbolman]

I'm devastated by the news about Andy. I sat down and immediately created this flash movie memorial for him - been working on it for a full 24 hours, with tears in my eyes.

I'm afraid I don't get down in the gutter with the monsters that tortured my poor friend, I've tried to take the high road with this work. Andy was not heard to mention an unkind word about the bastards who taunted him, and so I thought he'd prefer something more spiritual for a memorial.

There's no loader for it so the music (I wrote and played it myself) may skip a little here and there, but I've done the best I could feeling pretty down about him.

Here's the link to the Flash movie:
http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/staticpages/index.php?page=20050710095608538

God bless ya Andy, where ever you are..

[LaurenG]

1. Excellent

Thank you. :cry:

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. That was beautiful

and now you've gone and made me cry again. :cry:

Goodbye Andy, thanks for making the world a better place.

[murielm99]

3. You're making me cry, symbolman.

Very good, though.

[laylah]

4. Beautiful! n/t

[Karenina]

5. Inspired...

:cry:

[merh]

6. .

:cry:


Thank you symbolman :hug: Andy would love this. :pals:

[symbolman]

10. Maybe Andythanksyou could use it

I'd love to see it everywhere, as it was people all over the web that contributed to save him, and he needs to be memorialized.

glad you like it, and I do hope that Andy would have liked it to - sheesh, I went to andystephenson.com and saw that he had my old flash "VoteRevolution" right there on his site, I was very touched to see that..

[merh]

19. I provided Ben a link - he will post it, I am sure of that.

It is beautiful symbolman, Andy would love it and it will be posted at Andy's site.

Andy loved you and he would be verklempt (sp), you are a true artist and a kind, loving man. :hug:

[symbolman]

84. I saw it there and *I* got verklempt -

I feel like I've added to the positive vibes we so sorely need, one thing I appreciated about Andy is his INTEGRITY and lack of Ego problems.

Unfortunately there seems to be a lot of problems on the left with Integrity lately, I've experienced it myself firsthand in the last year - which makes me appreciate people like Andy all the more.

He didn't screw people or try to be egotistical, didn't want to be pumped up and adored. He did what was RIGHT and True, and didn't screw people to get there.

We need more like him.

You've actually made me blush, and only my mom could do that up to this point in my life :)

Hope all is well, and tell Ben I appreciate him putting up the memorial, respecting it enough to share...

Take care of yourself, I know you were/are very emotionally invested in all this, buy yourself a little present each day this week - even if it's only a cup of coffee, just for YOU.

Seriously, it's good for you, well, not the Coffee per se, but I'm sure you catch my drift.

I thank you for your comments and now it's time to pick up Andy's torch and take it to the top of the mountain (or to the castle where the monsters are)..

I'm hoping that our Electronic Voting film gets it's due in court (or arbitraition) here soon and we'll be able to share all the work we did on the subject for just about the last year, ignoring everything else, to the detriment of running our site itself.

You take good care of yourself,

Your friend,

sym

[merh]

85. First the awesome video

and now this sweet post, you are a wonderful man. :hug:

thanks so much.

[The Minus World]

7. Great work.

Remembering this man's impetus is an infinitely worthy cause.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. Thank you..... now if the people who slandered Andy would put this

link on their site.... they would be headed in a better direction.

[symbolman]

9. That's a damn good idea..

I'm afraid that no amount of apology from them will work, at least for me. I personally believe that they stressed Andy so much that they just may have contributed to his death, and that anyone who did that should be held accountable to the full extent of the law - even so far as to contributing to involuntary manslaughter or whatever fits.

I've alerted John Conyers office to this scandal, being that he's in the position he's in at the Judiciary Branch, maybe he can direct the right people to get to the bottom of this.

I'd like to see some Justice for Andy, but would rather work in the background than make idle threats, that's just not a good idea, however emotional it may get.

I hope this helps to heal folks a bit, grieving takes time and reflection - I'd recomment Kublar-Ross's book, "On Death and Dying."

She invented the levels of grief responses for mental health, and was actually raised in a Nazi Concentration Camp as a young woman.

She spent years at people's bedsides while they were dying, and found that in the majority of cases, if you've had a good life - not screwed people over, lived every moment to it's fullest in a sane and kind manner, that you will be assured of a gentle death.

The people that are bastards go kicking and screaming.

I hope it was peaceful for Andy, I suspect it was due to the kind of person that he was.

thanks for the input :)

[Judi Lynn]

43. You created an intense experience for everyone who focused on your tribute

to Andy, like a private memorial service on a very personal level.

Nothing was wasted or uneccessary: it was powerful.

Thank you for mentioning another person who spent her life working to improve our lot: Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.

[symbolman]

49. Thanks so much

I honestly believe that this is one of the top ten books that anyone should read in their lives. Not only does it assist in grieving over, pets, relationships, divorces, job losses, etc - it prepares you for the death of a loved one and Your Own, which is very important..

Of course I was indestructible until I was 25 or so, bulletproof, fireproof, no amount of whiskey could kill me :)

Read it, you won't be sorry.. thanks for inspiring me!

[Oversea Visitor]

11. NICE

[GCP]

12. That was absolutely beautiful - you have so much talent, Symbolman

Thank you for this wonderful tribute and all you're doing.
Andy's memory will live on, like Khephra's, because of people on this site and throughout the internet who recognize good when they see it.

[mogster]

13. Beautiful!

Thank you :-)

[stellanoir]

14. a better tribute I could never imagine

kudos and thanks so-o-o much !!!

[countryjake]

15. Perfectly Beautiful!

The music, the images, & the message! Andy's voice lives.

[sellitman]

16. Awesome!

I took the chance and borrowed your candle sig....I hope that it's ok. PM me if not.

Kevin

[symbolman]

17. That's cool

I borrowed it from someone here.. it's so appropriate.. I miss that guy, and all he represented..

[KaryninMiami]

18. Thank you for doing this. It's perfect.

Andy would have loved it.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

20. Wonderful symbolman, thank you.

:hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

21. Absolutely beautiful.

:hug:

[hiley]

22. Thank you..

This means so much and Andy would love this, I feel.
:cry:

[silverlib]

23. Time well spent

I envy people who can express themselves so well through their talents.

This is absolutely beautiful and I feel fortunate that you shared.

Thanks!

[mikita]

24. a beautiful tribute to a beautiful man from a beautiful

symbolman. Thank you!

Mikita

[screembloodymurder]

25. How do you do that? I'd really like to know.

Wonderful tribute.

[supernova]

26. That was beautiful, Symbolman

;(

You play very well. And the pictures were very apt.

[peekaloo]

27. .

O8)

[BrklynLiberal]

28. A breathtakingly beautiful tribute....

:cry:

[goodboy]

29. Thank you Symbolman...(nt)

[symbolman]

30. I'm happy that so many people are pleased with this flash..

I wish I could do more, but I'm tapped out, can't donate - it's all I could think of doing.

Wish I could send this to the service to represent me there..

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

31. Still crying Symoblism. Thank you so much for this moving tribute

to Andy. It was brilliant. I see Andy beaming down!

[denese]

32. that is so beautiful

Thank you for sharing that beautiful tribute.
More tears.
:cry:

[progressoid]

33. !!

[dalloway]

34. thank you symbolman

for this inspired work.

[Darth_Kitten]

35. That's a wonderful tribute!

:hug:

[EFerrari]

36. thank you

[gardenista]

37. Kick. Beautiful and touching, Symbolman.

[tosca_veritas]

38. moved to tears

i have no words to describe my feelings, but i'm sure you know..........

all i can say is: thank you for this tribute -- his spirit of love and compassion reflected back through you!

tosca

[prairierose]

39. Lovely...

thanks for that symbolman

:hug:

[flyarm]

40. thank you so much Symbolman...

Andy would love your memorial..he would be tickled that you did this for him..i just know that..he was awed at how many people reached out to help him..he would be awed at your memorial..

you are a wonderful man..thank you.

fly

[Generic Other]

41. Thank you Symbolman!

I imagine Andy is smiling down at you!

[Bake]

42. Very moving. Very moving.

I'm wiping a tear away for a man I never met except here on DU.

Thank you, Symbolman.

Bake

[yowzayowzayowza]

44. Thx SymbolMan...

...beyond words.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

45. A beautiful and moving tribute n/t

[dandrhesse]

46. Thank you , it was really well done, and meaningful.

[troubleinwinter]

47. Thank you so much for creating it and sharing it. Nominated.

[demobabe]

48. Beautiful

Spread this far and wide...

[lavenderdiva]

50. This is so beautifully and obviously, lovingly done!

Thank you for all your hard work in producing such a wonderful and gorgeous tribute to Andy! Thank you.

[proud patriot]

51. Thanks Symbolman

:hug: :cry: smiling through tears .

[fortyfeetunder]

52. absolfrigginlutely awesome

You captured a moment. Thank you for sharing your talent this morning. You are awesome!

[symbolman]

53. I'm glad I could honor Andy

it's the only way I had, we've been living on donations, so it's hard for me to donate or show up for any services (tho I would like to) - this is also especially hard on me as I lost one of my very best friends in Seattle about three months ago and never got to grieve properly for him.. too busy as usual..

So this is my way of donating to Andy (for all he's done)and giving props to those who surrounded him with love when I was busy, life's like that..

You've really got to appreciate people while they are THERE I've found. I lost my mother to breast cancer when I was 16 and it took her 5 years to waste away, during my teens..

That's when you realise that every single second of your life counts, that you need to drop the computer and kiss your wife, play with your baby, go watch a sunset, etc.

What affected me most about Andy is having watched my mother die, I saw how Andy comported himself, his was a dignified death, and one to be admired.

So he deserved to be admired, even in death he spoke no ill of anyone - that's the sign of a classy dude, and a real hero.

He shook off those ticks and rats pestering him like water off a duck's back, something I'm not sure I could have done.

Showed ME, (and others I hope) that I still have some growing to do :)

[Bzzzz]

54. All I can say is...

WOW...beautiful tribute!

[salin]

55. What a great tribute

and reminder to us all that while Andy was a big part of getting the ball moving - it is up to us to now carry that ball forward.

[Mnemosyne]

56. What a beautiful tribute symbolman!

I'm crying at all the love. The world needs more caring and conviction.
I sent Andy a very small amount of cash, pretty broke most of the time, and told him not to waste money on postage for any thank you, he did anyway. We discussed his teaching and I so looked forward to meeting him and learning from him. Now it isn't going to happen, damn it.

[mourningdove92]

57. Thank you.

For bringing home to one who did not have the honor of knowing Andy, just how much we have lost.

[Daphne08]

58. Beautiful. Thank you for posting this link

I just realized you also created the flash. It was very moving.

[maveric]

59. That was Powerful, Symbolman.

Keep up doing what you're doing my friend!:thumbsup:

[Individualist]

60. Such a touching tribute, symbolman

I find words inadequate to express the beauty of what you've done. :hug:

[CatWoman]

61. that was just

FUCKING AWESOME

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry::cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[housewolf]

62. Oh Symbolman...

That was deeply moving and beautiful, a wonderous tribute to your friend, Andy (our friend, too).

Thank you for this wonderful gift in his memory.

[Cha]

63. That's a beautiful

tribute to Andy!

Thank you, Symbolman!

[EFerrari]

64. kick

[Sapphire Blue]

65. Beautiful... Thank you for this memorial

:hug:

[symbolman]

81. Love your sig graphic

what is it?

[SeattleGirl]

66. Beautiful.....

[roguevalley]

67. amazing. thank you, symbolman. a fitting epitaph to a good man.

[Coexist]

68. Symbolman - I went from chills to tears rather quickly

that was beautiful. You are a very sensitive and talented man.

[rumpel]

69. Now I'm crying again. It's beautiful.

[freeEarthLove]

70. good job

that was nice, guitar was a little rough though.

[symbolman]

73. I'm a little rusty

I never get to play my guitar anymore :)

I've wanted to get Bush out of office so I could quit activism and make my musical CD --

But life is what happens to you while you're busy making plans, eh?

Glad everyone likes, hope Andy does, where ever he is..

[stevedeshazer]

71. I'm speechless, symbolman.

You nailed it. That was Andy. Wow.

That was a very moving tribute.

[expatriate]

72. Wonderful, Symbolman.

A very loving and positive tribute. It helped me very much.

[symbolman]

74. a little kick for

the night crew

[OzarkDem]

75. Lovely tribute, Sym

You do great work. Its a touching memento for all of Andy's online friends. Thank you so much.

[Catherine Vincent]

76. That was a very sweet and kind thing to do for Andy, Symbolman.

:hug:

[Laurab]

77. That was so very beautiful, symbolman-thank you. n/t

[saracat]

78. How very beautiful. It is a lovely tribute both to Andy and DU.

[symbolman]

80. Yep, DU deserves a lot of the credit alright

I was absolutely AMAZED at the outpouring and generosity, (especially after so many had felt duped by SHE WHO WILL NOT BE NAMED BY ME) - the freepers just didn't "get" it, it was beyond their conprehension that so many people could TRUST someone, and at their word.

If there's anything funny to be seen in their actions (and admittedly I'd like to see them tried for contributing to Involuntary Manslaughter at the least) it's that they can't TRUST anyone.

They live in a world of spun delusions and bizzarre rationals, fake macho bullshit, raw hate..

We're like Martians to them, and if they remind me of anyone, they remind me of the people (and I use that term loosely) that have as a conviction (maybe it's even genetic) at the base of their black hearts that everything beautiful, anything as alien as Good Intentions, etc - must be KILLED.

Christ, Martin Luther King, Kennedys, you name it, etc..

It's worse than regular hateful toads that just want to bust your fun license, they actually must DESTROY.

I had an old bumpersticker on my car in the 70's that I made up myself - it read, "Kill the Warmongers." (It was taken as more tongue in cheek back then)

I'll fight. I've never backed down in my life - and by donating to Andy's health we all fought back against the darkness, and the darkness flinched, and was SCARED.

NOW we need to shine the searchlight on them, and watch them scatter like roaches.

Keep up the fight, do it for Andy, and do it for yourself and future generations, I like to think of Andy as a torch - he cleared a lot of shadows with the light he shone, now let's turn ALL the lights on :)

Thanks for the compliments everyone, my pleasure.

[Pachamama]

79. Wow....that is beautiful...thank you symbolman!

And thank you Andy....Namaste...:hug:

[SheepyMcSheepster]

82. perfect

wow, that really hits a nerve.
tragic

through his strenght may we find our own.

on a lighter note, the guitar sounded great, no complaints here.
good job.

[merh]

83. .

:hug:

[NC Beach Girl]

86. this is really beautiful

you did a fantastic job, thanks so much for creating this.

[countryjake]

87. Andy sparks are everywhere

[henslee]

88. nice.

[EFerrari]

89. Kicking for Carrot top and for Spiffarino

:kick:

:kick:

[bunny planet]

90. Thank you. That was beautiful.

[Ladyhawk]

91. I just moved back into my renovated apartment, so

I haven't hooked up my speakers yet. Just the imagery made me cry buckets. Thanks for the moving tribute.

[Janice325]

92. I'm crying, too.

That was beautiful.
Thank you, symbolman.