What's The Plot Really?

I know that ‘Cornel Lumiere’ has died. That is, I know this as well as anyone can in such circumstances. I was not there. But, in the portion of the Montreal Gazette before me, there is a square of words, a virtual plot. It is Cornel’s. And, like any real plot, it is surrounded by others.

In the square are written the usual things. But, it might be hard to accept that these are, indeed, the usual things without seeing the other plots. When they are in view, you nod your head and say to yourself, “Yes, of course, that is how it is.” A man is born. He lives; he dies. People say things about him. Thus, we signify that his span of years has been completed.

But, not always. Rather, it is not always the case that people know when another person has died. They are not always afforded an opportunity to speak openly about that person. And, when they do have such a chance, is that life really over just at that point; just because such words have been spoken?

Aristotle once added a twist to this question--when can we actually call a man happy?

These questions are also part of this story. In fact, they are a very strange and difficult aspect. In part, this is the source of the anger. Therefore, exploring this source is a salient reason for writing. There are times when it is important to right a wrong only dimly perceived or partially understood. In fact, it is sometimes necessary to ensure that things are skewed against the possibility of people getting ‘it’ all wrong in the first place. But, will I create new ‘wrongs’ in seeking to do this?

I sometimes wonder if I am not the sorcerer's apprentice making a bigger mess.

Some people are still living. So, one of the decisions that I have made is to limit the provision of ‘real’ names to those that are absolutely essential and publicly accessible. I shall be circumspect with the names of both the living and the dead. However, I must take care to provide you with sufficient evidence to answer any uneasy doubts. And, there must be enough information to genuinely enlighten your understanding as a reader of this ‘digital biography’.