A life remembered and in praise of the CBC
Mar. 3rd, 2007 05:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
puckrobinI just came back from the memorial for my former co-worker Andrew. I'd be lucky if 1/20th as many people showed up for my memorial. And it pisses me off how many jerks there are in this world living guilt-free when someone like Andrew suffered from depression. Luck of the genetic draw, I know. It doesn't make it any less sucky.
I remember on a day when I felt like I had accomplished nothing, Andrew took the time to show me how my going the extra mile in cataloguing archival footage helped with a current news story. He was funny, insightful, helpful. The go-to-guy if you wanted to bitch about management, talk about life or find out precisely what historical figure, vehicle, weapon or flag was on screen at the time. He had a generous spirit, a wry sense of humour, and an encyclopedic mind. And as a fellow secular humanist, it's sad that there's one less of us now.
I met a lot of former co-workers and got a lift back to Toronto with some of them. My God, it's like night and day from my current life. These days, I'm in a job where I'm known as "the one who reads". The level of conversation in the van was extraordinary. And I don't just mean references to Robertson Davies or foreign films. I mean a group of passionate, intelligent dedicated people who want to make sure that Canada gets the best damned information, arts and education it can have. These people who care about the welfare of the nation. It was like being in a car full of impossibly noble Aaron Sorkin characters. I had forgotten how things like Victoria's Sundae Fridays had brightened the day.
I see the CBC bashed a lot these days. Hell, my former co-workers can rightfully criticize management decisions. But these employees aren't about making money. They give a damn! And it pisses me off that in my current job I see smug, "anything for a buck" assholes mock the CBC. Yes, the CBC can do better. But you cannot fault the people working there in the trenches.
I *need* to get back into the arts/information section. Maybe not at MotherCorp. But somewhere people care about other things than just paying the bills or making money.
They really showed me a better way of living my life.
Allen
I remember on a day when I felt like I had accomplished nothing, Andrew took the time to show me how my going the extra mile in cataloguing archival footage helped with a current news story. He was funny, insightful, helpful. The go-to-guy if you wanted to bitch about management, talk about life or find out precisely what historical figure, vehicle, weapon or flag was on screen at the time. He had a generous spirit, a wry sense of humour, and an encyclopedic mind. And as a fellow secular humanist, it's sad that there's one less of us now.
I met a lot of former co-workers and got a lift back to Toronto with some of them. My God, it's like night and day from my current life. These days, I'm in a job where I'm known as "the one who reads". The level of conversation in the van was extraordinary. And I don't just mean references to Robertson Davies or foreign films. I mean a group of passionate, intelligent dedicated people who want to make sure that Canada gets the best damned information, arts and education it can have. These people who care about the welfare of the nation. It was like being in a car full of impossibly noble Aaron Sorkin characters. I had forgotten how things like Victoria's Sundae Fridays had brightened the day.
I see the CBC bashed a lot these days. Hell, my former co-workers can rightfully criticize management decisions. But these employees aren't about making money. They give a damn! And it pisses me off that in my current job I see smug, "anything for a buck" assholes mock the CBC. Yes, the CBC can do better. But you cannot fault the people working there in the trenches.
I *need* to get back into the arts/information section. Maybe not at MotherCorp. But somewhere people care about other things than just paying the bills or making money.
They really showed me a better way of living my life.
Allen
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The Workplace
Date: 2007-03-04 03:16 pm (UTC)When customers send emails with problems, the masses lower their heads and whisper, afraid to show a lack of confidence in their lord, "give it to you know who". "The one who reads?" they'd ask. "Yes, he's our only hope"
no subject
Date: 2007-03-05 03:07 am (UTC)I'm glad you were able to spend some time with your former co-workers. I think you needed a reminder that there are intelligent dedicated people out there, and, as you say, a better way of living your life. Maybe it's another sign that you need to find an organization that is about more than making a quick buck.