This is the text of a memorial speech by Sean’s best friend, Mike. He gave a shortened version at the “OurStoriesMatter” event. I agree with his honesty and how we could have done better for Sean. I agree with his push for harm-reduction and medically proven therapy.
Introduction and spiritual well-being hopes.
As some of you know, Sean has been a close friend of mine for years, since Spanish at South Burlington High School. When I think of Sean, I am reminded in ways of St. Mark Ji Tianxing, both because of his patronage of opiate addicts and because of his complicated relationship with the Divine. St. Mark Ji Tianxing was unable to receive conventional Catholic salvation, due to an immature understanding of the nature of addiction on the part of his Confessor, but he pressed on towards Heaven, faithfully begging God daily for martyrdom, since he felt so ensnared by narcotics that freedom felt impossible but he knew that that death for Jesus would seal his fate for the good.
It is clear to me that God has been with Sean throughout his life. On the one occasion we broached the Eternal, attending Mass together, he promptly deposited the last dollar he had. Despite worrying before that he would “burst into flames” from having been far from the Church for so long, he was almost immediately rewarded with shelter and funds, bearing true the parables of Jesus in dramatic fashion. [Parable of the Widow who gave her last funds, amongst others] Of course, Sean had a much more convoluted walk than did St. Mark Ji Tianxing, but nonetheless the general direction of his path was clear to me. I thank the Lord that though Sean was unable to attain martyrdom as far as I know, and I’m uncertain even about his Last Rites, I was at least able to recite prayers in his presence which in our belief ought to hopefully help usher him to Paradise. Providence surely played a role at multiple levels. While his hobbies might’ve contributed to the early demise of his body, … compared to much of this town … , I worry little for the life of his soul. Ultimately, and fortunately, since my prayers have surely grown slack, he is now fully in the hands of the Most Merciful. We can be better, we must be better, and we will be better!
Memorializing and APPLAUSE Sean might best be remembered for his heroic sacrifices as a submariner. As anybody acquainted with the operations of a nuclear Navy is aware, a career path aboard submarines can easily lead to deployments on what constitutes a perpetual Schrodinger’s sentence of suicide. This is maddening for even the strongest of souls, and so in this light, the struggles of Sean can be seen as a continuing contribution to the defense of our very lives as Americans.
He made friends worldwide, one of the most remarkable things to me in the weeks after his death was the number of our friends I realized were impacted by his life, including individuals from countries a world apart. One of my fondest memories is eating at a Chilean restaurant in Midtown with two of our friends, along with the time we made a salad following Mongolian norms, off of Shelburne Road. He was of course known for his culinary capabilities. I’ll always remember his innovations—an egg in the Marinara. And a plate of quail wings he invented still makes my mouth water. His generosity extended to the table. I recall that during fatter times he provided me with enough healthy food to shed significant weight in a few months. His big heart extended to the many women in his life. While they sometimes fell head over heels, this was rarely reciprocated though they were always treated with respect, since Sean tried to keep his eyes fixed on greater things. I am reminded that at a point he perhaps managed to wed a beautiful lass though there were few accommodations made for the couple. I’m also reminded of St. Maximilian Kolbe, both because he is a patron of addicts, and because at Auschwitz [FACT-CHECK] he sacrificed his own life to save another’s. Somewhat similarly, Sean made known his organ donation wishes. And so shared the fire of life. Lamenting and accusing; sorrows section Of course, there were stressful times with Sean, and those must be discussed.
Let’s be truthful, we cannot blame beer or bud, we can’t even blame heroin, and while he can accuse himself, we certainly can’t blame Sean. We can, however, blame our collective inaction when it comes to the well-established covert Chinese chemical operations aimed at a disruption of our national vigor. And we can blame a need for action on one of the only proven solutions: potency-based sentencing, wherein the incentives of Chinese collaborators are aligned at least with the interest of honoring human life, by prosecuting in accordance with the potency and so the risk of fatality of seized narcotics. These same networks have been run by the Communists since the days of Korea and Vietnam, and as recent Congressional testimony has shown, they have continued at least in essence and adapted to turning Americans against our country by shipping synthetic opiates en masse to the desperate and the greedy and practically for free. It is necessary to stop or defang this flow, and in the interim, muzzle its public health bite.
We can also blame the “recovery” industry, in whose greedy modalities Sean was snared at times. While there are far more effective and scientifically proven treatments available, the 12-stepper’s promote a revolving door of recovery, rather than true improvement. That said, the programs are better than nothing, and are intended to provide a free sober socialization setting, which is a good and the hijacking of which for wanton profit is despicable. I bear much blame. Despite seeing one of my best friends forced to rely on drughouses and pushers for shelter because of the selfishness of his supposed loves ones, I was equally selfish, rarely offering him shelter in Vermont though I had every reason to trust him situationally. In New York, he was a reasonable houseguest, until our mutual poverties brought us to blows. Given an equitable economic distribution, he could’ve easily obtained employment and housing along with the many friends he earned each time, and even indulged his vices a bit—Lord knows some consume ten times the narcotics with a tenth the consequences. But most importantly, given each and every one of us having mercy on the addicts in our lives, we can ensure that our loved ones live.
I’m reminded of one time when Sean stormed out of a car with me and a few other men, bellowing “I just wanted my friend Mike,” and it was only much later, when I was leaving a bus and passed by someone I suspected might’ve been a distressed Sean, failing to offer him help, followed up by holding his dying body in a hospital bed, that I realized he was likely referring to myself. Adding to this accusation is the fact that I failed to send a letter intended for him during his imprisonment, despite being obligated by Conscience to do so, and I remain acutely aware that that letter could’ve perhaps saved his life. With Sean opening his eyes to these circumstances of neglect every single morning, his murder might’ve been mercy, and that horrifying conclusion must motivate us to change, to love, to actually care. And we must keep in mind that so many more are still suffering the same struggles, since Sean is both a statistic and a soul, so both symbolic and conclusive of the problem. Anything that would’ve worked for Sean we must offer to all those so afflicted, and anything that would’ve worked for anybody we have a duty to make available. STATISTICS Call for prosecutions, or explicit mention of mercy? We can be better, we must be better, and we will be better!
Call for action; anger/actualization We do need thoughts and prayers. Of course, we must do more. At a policy level, we want: A comprehensive evaluation of the factors and components of the drugs crisis, for example, housing policy. An ombudsman and office to serve as a voice for those suffering from the drugs crisis, e.g., in encounters with bureaucrats distributing thwacks and treats. Potency-based sentencing, with stiff penalties for negative outliers. The exploration of a short-term blanket amnesty (perhaps with reporting requirements) followed by a stark sharpening of penalties. At a philanthropic level, we want: • Memorial efforts • Hope for addicts, in the form of jobs, investment, and education. • Inclusive recreation and community centers; there’s a reason Vermont has among the highest rates of cannabis and alcohol use, and it’s shocking we have so few open community centers to alleviate this environmentally-induced ennui. And at a personal level, we must: Whatever you do, no money for the status quo, instead for things of relevance: musical library, lobbying, scuba, skiing, wildlife, etc. I promise you, had my friend been given a private bed, a spliff, and a sixer to go with his meals, so, a saner society, he would be speaking in my stead right now. We could’ve done better. We can be better, we must be better, and we will be better!
An Appendix: Props and Publications Sources: • Source for Chinese chemical warfare claims • Source for submarining claims • Source for VT drugs statistics. • Open with Ecclesiastes? Props: • Photo of quail wings
for-kindness 