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Death Of a Friend...& A Pesky Preacher

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Ira Fried died a few days ago. He was in the hospital to deal with some nasty
conditions related to parkinson's syndrome. Alas, sepsis suddenly did him in.

Much can be said of him, but RF folk would appreciate these stories most....

1) He was working on his PhD in economics when he discovered that small
changes in fancy pants mathematical models yielded diverse results.
He decided that he wasn't learning about economics...just mathematical
modeling. So he quit school, becoming a health care analyst.

2) He was an avowed socialist (really just a progressive liberal), but he
was able to entertain competing ideas, treating them objectively while
being civil to a reprobate like me. (I find this to be a rare trait.)

Now, on to the point of the thread.....
There he is....dead or dying in his bed. Family & friends surround him.
(I was far away at the engine show. I visited him while he was still lucid.)
And in walks this guy wearing a vestment kind of robe. He doesn't pause
at the door or seek permission to enter. Tis as though he presumes that
everyone is a believer in need of his wise counsel & succor.
Not!
Disinterest was immediately expressed.
Of course, I know that not all chaplain / preacher types are so ham
fisted in their methods. But criminy....these guys need better training.

Btw, Mrs Revolt noted that even vampires only enter after invitation.
(Even women occasionally make a good joke.)
 

shmogie

Well-Known Member
Ira Fried died a few days ago. He was in the hospital to deal with some nasty
conditions related to parkinson's syndrome. Alas, sepsis suddenly did him in.

Much can be said of him, but RF folk would appreciate these stories most....

1) He was working on his PhD in economics when he discovered that small
changes in fancy pants mathematical models yielded diverse results.
He decided that he wasn't learning about economics...just mathematical
modeling. So he quit school, becoming a health care analyst.

2) He was an avowed socialist (really just a progressive liberal), but he
was able to entertain competing ideas, treating them objectively while
being civil to a reprobate like me. (I find this to be a rare trait.)

Now, on to the point of the thread.....
There he is....dead or dying in his bed. Family & friends surround him.
(I was far away at the engine show. I visited him while he was still lucid.)
And in walks this guy wearing a vestment kind of robe. He doesn't pause
at the door or seek permission to enter. Tis as though he presumes that
everyone is a believer in need of his wise counsel & succor.
Not!
Disinterest was immediately expressed.
Of course, I know that not all chaplain / preacher types are so ham
fisted in their methods. But criminy....these guys need better training.

Btw, Mrs Revolt noted that even vampires only enter after invitation.
(Even women occasionally make a good joke.)
Wearing a robe/vestment ? The Hospital Chaplain´s I have come across wear civvies, in the case of Catholics and fellow travelers a clerical collar. It sounds perhaps that it was a Catholic priest come to do last rites. They only do this for their own, so I wonder if he got the wrong room or was mis informed.

Sorry you lost your friend.
 

dybmh

דניאל יוסף בן מאיר הירש
Rest in Peace Ira Fried. Comfort to friends and family in grief.
 

icehorse

......unaffiliated...... anti-dogmatist
Premium Member
Sorry about your friend.

Yup, religious folks often butt in, and that's one of my main problems with religion, too often religious folks aren't happy with their own wacky stories, they need for you to also be happy with their wacky stories.
 

Terry Sampson

Well-Known Member
I wasn't there, so I don't know. (We're very progressive here, so everyone is frightened of mentioning race.)

Ha! I understand. I'm not afraid, however. Here's my best guess: This is the list of current chaplains: Spiritual Care Chaplains and Staff | Michigan Medicine
Perusing the list, I think I'm on solid ground if I eliminate the service dog and the female chaplains. What's left? Three whites, and four blacks.
I also think it's safe to eliminate the Imam. :)
Of the three whites, two are Catholic and one is Protestant. Contrary to Shmogle's guess, the only Catholic chaplain who might show up in a robe to perform the Last Rites is the Pope. I've known a lot of priests in my time. They do NOT relish opportunities to parade among grieving strangers in robes. The Protestant is associated with the Community Church of Ann Arbor (a non-denominational group); non-denominationals do not wear robes.
Of the three remaining blacks, two are Baptists and the third is an Elder and Pastor in the Church of God in Christ.
White Baptists don't wear robes. Black Baptists who do, don't normally wear robes outside of a church. Elders and Pastors in the Church of God in Christ rarely miss an opportunity to impress a crowd, especially if they probably have their wallets and purses with them.
Ergo, I conclude that if I have correctly identified the hospital in which your friend was located and if the list of chaplains is complete and up-to-date, the Rev. Tony Shomari Marshall was the offending chaplain. https://www.hopicogic.org/pastor
Moral: Brother Marshall has had all the training he's thinks he needs. More ain't going to teach him a thing.
I'm just sorry that Brother Marshall didn't break out into a sermon. Ira might have left this world sooner, but he'd probably have gone out of here laughing.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Sorry for the loss of your friend. Too bad you weren't there. In some countries the preacher guy could be charged with harassment. I can hear my Dad telling him where to go.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Ha! I understand. I'm not afraid, however. Here's my best guess: This is the list of current chaplains: Spiritual Care Chaplains and Staff | Michigan Medicine
Perusing the list, I think I'm on solid ground if I eliminate the service dog and the female chaplains. What's left? Three whites, and four blacks.
I also think it's safe to eliminate the Imam. :)
Of the three whites, two are Catholic and one is Protestant. Contrary to Shmogle's guess, the only Catholic chaplain who might show up in a robe to perform the Last Rites is the Pope. I've known a lot of priests in my time. They do NOT relish opportunities to parade among grieving strangers in robes. The Protestant is associated with the Community Church of Ann Arbor (a non-denominational group); non-denominationals do not wear robes.
Of the three remaining blacks, two are Baptists and the third is an Elder and Pastor in the Church of God in Christ.
White Baptists don't wear robes. Black Baptists who do, don't normally wear robes outside of a church. Elders and Pastors in the Church of God in Christ rarely miss an opportunity to impress a crowd, especially if they probably have their wallets and purses with them.
Ergo, I conclude that if I have correctly identified the hospital in which your friend was located and if the list of chaplains is complete and up-to-date, the Rev. Tony Shomari Marshall was the offending chaplain. https://www.hopicogic.org/pastor
Moral: Brother Marshall has had all the training he's thinks he needs. More ain't going to teach him a thing.
I'm just sorry that Brother Marshall didn't break out into a sermon. Ira might have left this world sooner, but he'd probably have gone out of here laughing.
That analysis is worthy of Sherlock Holmes.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
Sorry for the loss of your friend. Too bad you weren't there. In some countries the preacher guy could be charged with harassment. I can hear my Dad telling him where to go.
Tis better my being absent.
I'm empathy challenged, & find such gatherings awkward.
All know I think (not merely thought) highly of him.
 
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