by liberal japonicus
Hilzoy’s facebook feed reminds me that it is 9 years since Andy Olmsted was killed by a sniper in Iraq.
Someone once complained that leaving all the information about Andy up on the left was like making a shrine rather than fostering discussion. Living in a country full of shrines, I tend to see the problem as we not having enough shrines so people slip out of memory too soon.
I remember reading hilzoy’s post noting he died. Just awful.
Many of the links are dead anyway, so not much of a shrine. Sigh. I cried at work when I found out. First US soldier killed that year. What a dubious distinction.
First US soldier killed that year.
I didn’t know that (or, if I did, I didn’t remember). Depressing…
I’ve been thinking about Andy a lot this fall, because we’ve been re-watching Babylon Five.
I bought that whole series on Andy’s recommendation and still haven’t watched it. Something to do this year at some point.
His recommendation figured into my watching it. There are nice bits, and a lot that made me want to pull my hair out (and/or pull the director or writer’s hair out). First season is probably the weakest, but a lot of the problems with the first season merely become less obvious rather than ever going away. It’s not a bad series per se, but it’s unquestionably one with pervasive flaws, largely stemming from the tendencies of television programming of its era.
He did say the first was the worst
Thanks for posting this, lj.
I had, and have, zero interest in Battlestar Galactica.
Olmstead made me want to less of a belligerent combatative dick, initially here on ObWi, and subsequently IRL.
It’s a work in progress to be sure, but the obligation I feel to his memory and character is surely part of it.
He died doing what he felt he wanted and needed to do. He went into it all with his eyes open.
He gave his life trying to convince the guys who shot him to surrender, so he wouldn’t have to shoot them. I cannot imagine an act of greater generosity and largeness of heart.
Rest in peace Andy, you are missed,
Russell, *psst* Babyon 5 and Battlestar Galactica are really different shows. B5, the one Andrew loved, ends with these words:
Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. There would never be another. It changed the future and it changed us. It taught us that we have to create the future or others will do it for us. It showed us that we have to care for one another, because if we don’t, who will? And that true strength sometimes comes from the most unlikely places. Mostly, though, I think it gave us hope, that there can always be new beginnings. Even for people like us.
NOt forgotten.