My name is Rebecca Schuler. I am a friend of Matthew, who I think you knew as kwickkick. He asked me to post something here for him. He died on Saturday from cancer. He said that some of you wanted to know about his trip to Europe. I went with him and he was the happiest I have ever seen him. He only managed to go to London, Sheffield, Milan and Zurich. The plan was to take him several more places, but his health didn't hold up. We came home and not too long afterwards he went into hospice. He was in a great deal of pain on Friday and they began using a fair amount of morphine. We were told he would probably die over the weekend. Several friends and family members were there with him until the end. His death was very peaceful. On Thursday, he asked me to record something he wanted to tell you and asked me to post it this week.
This is a transcription of what Matthew had to say:
"I wanted to say hello to everyone and thank you for all of the support you gave me earlier. First off, I want to be sure of one thing. Do not feel sorry for me. Do not feel sad. I lived long enough to see Europe, at least the parts I most wanted to see. I lived long enough to see Barack Obama inaugurated as President of the United States. I have had a very good life, surrounded by friends and people I loved and who loved me. I don't think I would change a thing. So, no sorrow and no pity.
Next, I wanted to encourage you and remind you of what matters. We are at an epochal moment in our history. We have the chance through Barack Obama to change the world. It is not going to change the way any of us individually wants it to. None of us will ever get everything we want. What will happen us that the world will become a better place. People will have more opportunities. The poor will be lifted up. Life will not seem so bitter and bleak. America will become a world leader again and will be able to use its power to make people's lives in every country better. There will not be bombs dropped indiscriminently on brown people, simply to flex our muscle. Lives worldwide will improve.
There will be people who try to stop this. Some conservatives, though not all, will hope that Obama fails. These are the people who care only for their own philosophies and not for their fellow man. They should be ignored. But in ignoring them, we cannot forget them. We have to fight as a unified group, supporting Obama in his efforts. We have to use all of our power to help things improve.
I know we will have differences. Put them aside. It is so easy to focus on where we don't agree and to lose the big picture. Fight until we win. Fight until there are jobs and healthcare and peace. Then we can begin arguing about the details. Be sure to remember the forest. It is the most important thing.
I doubt I'll be speaking to you again, but I really don't have anything left to say. Again, no sorrow. Just remember me and remember what we are fighting for.''
That's it. Thank you for supporting him. I know it really meant a lot to him.
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Your words are unbelievably wonderful. Reading them has touched my heart. I could not quite understand why it was so important to Matthew that I post this here. In fact, I had assumed it would just be ignored but he made me promise to post it, so I did. This is an amazing community of people. Thank you for giving Matthew so much inspiration.
One other thing. A few of you have asked to hear some of Matthew's music. I know he has some recordings somewhere but I do not know where. I do have words to one of his songs and I thought it would be fitting to share these. This is a song called Vast Charade that he wrote for a friend of ours who was going into alcohol rehab. It is about support and God and friends and change. That seems fitting.
Come along, I'll take your hand
Won't be too afraid.
The time has come to make a stand
And end the vast charade.
I want to go to where the rivers flow
And wade into the sea
Because I need to find another place
The other side of me.
Time was wasted all along
Living in a dream
Chasing down a distant song
That wasn't what it seemed.
But now I know the world that never was
Just couldn't set me free
So now I'm searching for another place
The other side of me.
Hope envisioned from afar
Well beyond the touch
Leads me out of my own war
Without revealing much
But now the darkness weighs upon my faith
With little left to see
But still I know I need another place
The other side of me.
Cause if I don't believe the time has come
To change the way I've been
I know I'm gonna find myself alone again and I
Don't believe
That if I wander from the path I'm on
And choose instead to roam
That I'm ever gonna find my way back home.
Come along, I'll take your hand
Won't be too afraid
The time has come to make our stand
And end the vast charade.