[Vision2020] Good bye my dear friend

Fri Mar 3 17:52:45 PST 2006

Chris, Joan, Tom, All,

It is greatly saddening and shocking to hear of Phil's passing.  My heart goes out to his family, friends, and all those he touched with his being.

Though Phil and I frequently butted heads on this forum and elsewhere, sometimes quite vigorously and rancorously, he was to me an important, admirable, and influential person in our community.  

Not only was Phil a very complex person, but extremely intelligent, educated, experienced, and fiery.  He was involved in many noble causes and was very well-liked by those who knew him personally.

I like Tom Hansen's idea of a Vision 2020 memorial to Phil -- a memorial which epitomizes what Phil brought to this forum in spades:  fearless, unlimited, frank, rigorous, no-holds-barred debate on many timely topics, not to mention his sensitive poetry, and his soft, very compassionate side that he could not conceal but occasionally permitted to peak out.  No one could ever say that Phil lacked courage.  No one could say that despite some very heated exchanges Phil did not eventually forgive and start over afresh with his disputants without hard feelings.

I hope the following does not upset anyone but, it probably will:

I have received some communications which suggest that in honor of Phil's demise we should be kinder to each other on Vision 2020.

I realize that this suggestion was made with all the best of intentions.  However, I, perhaps erroneously, find such a suggestion to be not only disrespectful to the memory of the strength and nature of Phil's character, but amounts to speaking quite ill of the dead and his very passionate, truth-seeking identity.

Phil was a very zealous, articulate debater.  He was adept at presenting his views and countering the arguments of those he opposed.  He was contentious, enjoyed being contentious, and would most likely be insulted if someone said otherwise.  One could not read some of his posts without feeling the rush that he must have felt when composing them.  His posts were also quite able to create seething rushes for many of his readers.  The passionate debates he participated in frequently led, in one way or another, to many fruits that greatly benefited our community.

Like many of us on this forum, Phil was also adept at hurling invective.  When engaged in passionate debate, kindness was not always his style.  Clever, bombastic, lashing personal commentary was sometimes an integral part of his rhetoric.  I don't, and I think very few hold grudges against Phil for his personal remarks.  It was part of his style and made many of his posts more interesting, exciting, stimulating, and entertaining.  I think most of us took his hot words with a large grain of salt and tried to appreciate and to understand the underlying arguments he was making.

Hence, I believe to say to honor Phil by being kinder in debate is not a compliment to Phil but a serious put-down, and definitely not a suggestion he would approve.  On the contrary, again perhaps erroneously, I believe that Phil would have urged in his honor continued rigorous, no-holds-barred debate, not only for the great love of free expression he infectiously exhibited during his life but because of the many fruits that can eventually can flow from such debate as it did from his powerful, contentious, often outspoken involvement in community affairs.

I will sadly miss Phil and the stimuli he provided.  Let us appreciate him for the complex, quick witted person, influence, and power he was and, when appropriate to each individual, wish him Godspeed not without a tear in our eyes.

Wayne A. Fox
1009 Karen Lane
PO Box 9421
Moscow, ID  83843

(208) 882-7975
waf at moscow.com
deco at moscow.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Chris Storhok 
To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 12:24 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] Good bye my dear friend

To all of you,

As most of you may have known Phil and I were close friends.  As I sit and type this out my heart aches for his family, his sons, Marian, and his parents.  

Rarely in life do we get the pleasure of meeting a person like Phil.  He was a one of a kind person who truly cared.    I am so glad that many of you have gotten to know Phil and have a beer or two with him.   He respected all of you, he may not have agreed with you but he did respect you.  

When Phil moved to Moscow in 2001 he came into town with the best of ideals, he came with passion, hope, and a dream of prosperity for north central Idaho.  He spoke of the joy that under-funded schools will receive mineral royalties from the clay project.   He loved the idea of using his talents to restore the Potlatch River to a major salmon spawning ground in much the same way that he worked to restore tributaries of the Salmon River.

Many of you would point out Phil's short comings; he loved it and lived for it.  Last week when him and I talked for a while he expressed the thrill of debate with many of you, especially Wayne, Tom, and Nick.  This V2020 list serve was very special to him, and you all meant so much to him.   Joan, thanks for getting to know Phil and allowing him to write on New West.  I know when he first read your work he was challenged by you, your stance on many issues forced him to look inside himself and re-examine much of his political and personal thoughts.  

Mark, I am so glad that you and Phil were able to work together again, no matter what side of the isle you were on, he respected you very deeply and truly loved the challenge you brought to bear. Thanks.

I know personally Phil always challenged me to dig deeper, examine the situation, and strive for a better solution.  An evening of beer of Mingles was a treat for me, and usually I had to lead Phil home.   Dang it Phil, you were way to young bud.....    

He was a lover of Idaho, it people, its history, and its future.   He loved Moscow and I have a feeling that he was comfortable dying there.  

To my best friend, 

Shalom

Chris

Chris Storhok

North Pole, AK

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From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of DonaldH675 at aol.com
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 10:31 AM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Kaddish for Phil Nesbit

Glorified and sanctified be God's great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.

May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity. 

Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us
and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

Rose Huskey

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