Hail and Farewell
I’m at a loss for words about the death of Kent Snyder late last week, which I heard about just yesterday. Kent was the campaign chairman of the Ron Paul Presidential Campaign Committee and had been involved with Dr. Paul since his 1988 Libertarian Party run. Kent was a spirit of tranquility on the campaign this year: he worked ceaselessly for Dr. Paul’s nomination, but never seemed in the least irritated or discouraged no matter what happened. That was vital for maintaining the whole campaign’s morale. And although he was the top man in the campaign, he was also the most approachable.
Kent had extensively studied Eastern philosophy and Buddhism as well as the traditions of Western liberty, and he was drawn to the peacefulness of the Quakers. He embodied the best traits of all those traditions: calm and kind-spirited in the face of all adversity. His passing is a bigger loss to those who knew him, even those who only knew him slightly, than I can say. A terrible loss for the Ron Paul Revolution as well, to which Kent devoted his life (he even wrote his MA thesis on Dr. Paul) and which he did so much — more than anyone else but Dr. Paul himself — to set into motion.
Addendum: At the Ron Paul Blog, Don Rasmussen links to several of Kent’s articles and interviews, including this appearance on the Tucker Carlson show:
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June 30th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Kent was the future Aquarian, libertarian and conscious. We both were yogis, not just libertarians, and we’d discuss communicating freedom ideas in a way approachable to the cultural creatives, the fastest growing cohort in population demographics. He had discussed with me staffing Congressman Paul in an early New Hampshire campaign visit, but that never went forward. And, instead of hiring me to run the Liberty Caucus back in 1996, Congressman Paul made the wiser decision to give the job to Kent. Kent was a kind soul, and as we chant for the departed in kundalini yoga:
“Akal, Akal, Akal”.
I discuss Kent and other matters in my latest blog: http://dcflow.gaia.com/blog.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:49 am
It’s very moving to me that Snyder was “drawn to the peacefulness of the Quakers.” I have also found resonance in the Quakers’ message of peace and friendship. I met Kent Snyder only once very briefly, but I knew him better than that, because we share all the same liberty-minded ideas.
Just as I could immediately become friends with any Ron Paul supporter I’ve met because (although strangers) we have much in common, Snyder and I had a kinship. I am so sorry for his family over the loss of a very important person to the liberty movement.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
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