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 To
Brian
In designing this publication I went through several drafts of this opening Editor's note attempting to summarize a holistic purpose for this endeavor. First, I tried jokes that identified with debaters and our inbred sense of humor. Next I tried a more serious approach. Merlin, our webmaster looked at my offerings and said, "eh...it's not very inspiring...you've written better."
Racking my brain I tried to find something that would be meaningful. A
phrase or an idea that would cut to the very heart of our humanity.
Finally, as I was lacing my steel-toed boot, which was about to be placed ever so gently through the
monitor of my computer, I realized what the problem was. This publication is not solely about debate, debaters, or our warped sense of humor. This publication is a place for the exchange of ideas, thoughts, and emotions. A forum where your wildest thoughts, or bizarrest imaginations could be displayed.
So, it behooves me to open my self up first. On my birthday, May 11th, I sat in a church for the funeral of one of my best friends, Brian. Two days before his 22nd birthday, Brian ran a stop sign, rear-ended a trash truck and was thrown from his car. The police took nearly an hour to arrive on the scene... Brian's soul had already departed.
The irony of his death lies in the fact that he was on his way to his last day of work. He was leaving to
fulfill his dream of beginning a career of ministry. Sadly, he had ended his old life of a corporate career, and did begin a new life... only it was not the new life he had expected.
No trite answer, quotation, or self-help book will be able to explain the death of a boy who was on his way to serving God with everything he had. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know." I know this. The plans you have for your life may be interrupted at any moment. Make sure the live you choose to lead is a life of living ideally. If you can imagine a life of perfection, then that is what you should be living.
That is one of the things that I know. Paradigm Shift is devoted to the expression of what you know. The world in your eyes. No matter how
progressive, or innovative your "Paradigm" is welcome at this publication.
I am dedicating this publication to Brian, a boy full of life, and a man who lived a message. My question is, what is your message?
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