tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post430718797650153225..comments2024-02-26T10:52:14.585-08:00Comments on Glimpses of South Pasadena: A Light ExtinguishedLaurie Alleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14460272282273523408noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-65691722013427848192010-01-12T06:43:13.726-08:002010-01-12T06:43:13.726-08:00The LA Times has penned an article on Aydin and hi...The LA Times has penned an article on Aydin and his family: <br /><br />http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-aydin8-2010jan08,0,7313468.story<br /><br />It is actually quite a well-written, moving, and empathetic piece that sheds much light on the journeys that Aydin and his parents took from Iran to the US. <br /><br />The Aydin Salek Leadership Foundation blog can be found here: http://aydinsalek.wordpress.com/alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01733102064925528814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-30290970231997517282009-12-18T20:21:30.972-08:002009-12-18T20:21:30.972-08:00I went to the Memorial ceremony at the high school...I went to the Memorial ceremony at the high school tonight. It was quite moving. Students spoke, teachers spoke, students sang, the parents and some cousins spoke. At they end, each person was given a helium balloon to write a message on. All the balloons were released and gathered at one spot in the sky like a school of fish. <br /><br />Aydin was quite a character. Very giving, very charismatic, but also very cocky and brash. He was both loved and often a challenge. What a great student body SPSH has. What wonderful kids and teachers. They have taken something very powerful from the death of their friend, and he will live on in them.Mister Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18405041951237611622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-37742716286949213972009-12-18T00:04:07.374-08:002009-12-18T00:04:07.374-08:00I believe a scholarship fund has been set up in Ay...I believe a scholarship fund has been set up in Aydin Salek's name. I'll find out the details and post them here. <br /><br />Such a loss. Such a tragic, tragic loss.Laurie Alleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14460272282273523408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-45208024505888296692009-12-17T22:59:19.501-08:002009-12-17T22:59:19.501-08:00Bowie said it well and so did you, Laurie: no one ...Bowie said it well and so did you, Laurie: no one needs "fingerwagging lectures from highhanded adults who seek to turn a young man's death into a talking point." They're quite aware what they're going through.Petrea Burchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043950465171821852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-59910242949431389712009-12-16T08:41:45.178-08:002009-12-16T08:41:45.178-08:00I had the privilege of knowing Aydin. He and I wer...I had the privilege of knowing Aydin. He and I were both on a district-wide homework committee last year. I thought he would grow up to rule the world. He was truly exceptional. My heart goes out to all touched by his passing.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08668487489667818687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-39345022227891931882009-12-15T20:45:35.134-08:002009-12-15T20:45:35.134-08:00Laurie---thanks for the info and the words---how s...Laurie---thanks for the info and the words---how sad it is to lose any life! I had heard about it yesterday and just stopped in my tracks. I did not know him, but we are reeling from the teen who died that Mr Earl mentioned. Lots of speculation, lots of anger and pain running around. Reality is, all of it won't bring any child back. Honest, open discussion will perhaps prevent another tragedy. <br /><br />I too recall high school years. Someone was driving drunk, killed himself and another teen, dinged up 2 others, 1 of whom was a classmate. I can still see the look in her eyes when she finally came back to school, as if it were yesterday. Still churns my stomach the same way.<br /><br />No matter what the situation turns out to be, Aydin made a contribution to the SoPas community and will be sorely missed. I hope that SoPas and those touched by Aydin's death can learn something from all of this and grow. Let it **not** be a true tragedy where nothing is learned from so much pain and loss.<br /><br />may Aydin's memory be for a blessingTrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12388261083998643091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-4624330058316903722009-12-15T18:16:51.346-08:002009-12-15T18:16:51.346-08:00Oh, and thank you for the kind words Alex and JEan...Oh, and thank you for the kind words Alex and JEannie. Alex, I think confused you with another Alex the other day and didn't properly welcome you to the blog! Welcome.<br /><br />I had a tragic event at my junior high school where a classmate shot and killed a teacher. I'll never forget those weeks of shock and fear and despair ... made worse by pushy reporters and local commentary about why it happened. It was my wakeup call to "the real world" and I'd just as soon have waited a few years before hearing the alarm. My heart goes out to everyone involved in this latest tragedy.<br /><br />Anyway, thanks to everyone who responded today, and to the people who emailed such thoughtful messages. I'll respond to each one later tonight.Laurie Alleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14460272282273523408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-51563004690290277862009-12-15T17:37:14.535-08:002009-12-15T17:37:14.535-08:00We don't know the cause of death. We only kno...We don't know the cause of death. We only know the young man was at a party where alcohol was served. Which, if I recall high school correctly, is pretty much every party at that age. <br /><br />I knew of someone in college who died at a keg party and the papers used her as a poster child for binge drinking dangers. Turned out, she had an aneurysm and that was what killed her. I knew someone else who passed out at a party and was rushed to the hospital not because she overindulged but because she was slipped quaaludes by a guy there. <br /><br />I don't know what happened to this young man, but whatever it was, speculation isn't helping anyone involved during this time of shock and grief. <br /><br />The whole story just breaks my heart in a zillion different ways.Laurie Alleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14460272282273523408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-28169333434890905432009-12-15T16:34:32.738-08:002009-12-15T16:34:32.738-08:00Unfortunately, deaths like this are not uncommon. ...Unfortunately, deaths like this are not uncommon. The daughter of a Gilroy firefighter died under similar circumstances earlier this month; a star athlete in Orinda in May. Today I read that 145,000 teenagers in the US are taken to emergency rooms under similar circumstances each year. And that's not counting driving-related events. So there is a lesson here, and it appears that each time something like this happens, lots of people get the lesson, and perhaps other lives are saved.Mister Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18405041951237611622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-17750485977850801802009-12-15T16:30:55.685-08:002009-12-15T16:30:55.685-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-47751641192380378192009-12-15T16:20:07.850-08:002009-12-15T16:20:07.850-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mister Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18405041951237611622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-66563721455562876822009-12-15T15:19:35.885-08:002009-12-15T15:19:35.885-08:00tragictragicKen Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09100185198750536244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-10523820704737787302009-12-15T15:12:08.253-08:002009-12-15T15:12:08.253-08:00Laurie, you have written such a beautiful tribute ...Laurie, you have written such a beautiful tribute to Aydin. Our youth as a whole are vulnerable to the unforeseen tragedies that life can pitch like a fast ball. Whatever happened, I don't believe that it was because this fine young man was reckless, so why are people out there judging, instead of opening our hearts and learning (or being reminded) that life is very precious. You're right, it's not an opportunity to point out a lesson, it's a very painful reality check.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-30765412082543776832009-12-15T14:55:36.755-08:002009-12-15T14:55:36.755-08:00Laurie, thanks for your insight into this tragic t...Laurie, thanks for your insight into this tragic turn of events. As an alumnus of SPHS, this hit a little too close to home. I found out about the incident over the weekend on Sunday, when I received a facebook message from my former high school literature teacher. While I of course never met or knew Aydin, I could relate very much to what the local school community is going through now. I can't help but imagine how difficult it would have been to experience the death of a talented and well-liked classmate while attending South Pas High. It would have been a complete shock.<br /><br />So thank you Laurie for the post.alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01733102064925528814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-40912649113018052262009-12-15T14:34:48.181-08:002009-12-15T14:34:48.181-08:00thank u for writing this about Aydin.it means a lo...thank u for writing this about Aydin.it means a lot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-59341031215592261152009-12-15T07:22:00.959-08:002009-12-15T07:22:00.959-08:00Oh this is so well said Laurie. The lovely heart o...Oh this is so well said Laurie. The lovely heart of Aydin Salek, and the heartlessness of those who attempt to cash in on his tragedy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4926759868384604174.post-51846060285954188232009-12-15T05:13:56.672-08:002009-12-15T05:13:56.672-08:00May Aydin Salek be lifted up to a soul garden wher...May Aydin Salek be lifted up to a soul garden where his humor and inspiration will rain down. I hope his family is comforted by the love and many friends he left behind.Judy Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05081035351814381283noreply@blogger.com