The Blog Subscribe
Steve Jobs…Dude not Messiah
This morning I woke to find that Steve Jobs had passed away. Was I shocked? Well, no I predicted it would be one to three months when the last leave of absence was announced. But I was sad.
Am I blessed with an insight into Steve's Health Records which allowed me to be right? No, I'm not. The sad fact is that I recognise the ups and downs of dying from Cancer and thats due having lost far too many friends and family to a condition which is the most insidious and loathsome affliction of the human species. And I am Angry
But sad as I am, I am also respectful of the achievement of a man who didn't have the easiest of starts in life and certainly didn't follow the 'classic path' to a successful life. But thats what made him a Dude.
He was no ones 'man' but his own and he carved a path through life that made everyone who was washed in its wake proud and he groomed those around him to follow their OWN paths and pursue their own greatness. He was a Dude.
However, in my respect for him I am also careful to ensure that my respect and applause for the man is for 'The Man' and not 'The Myth' and in watching twitter today and looking at the Candle Lit Vigils outside Apple stores and the outpouring of 'Shock' I feel that the actions I see and the endless 'grief' is inadvertently beginning to destroy 'The Man' and promote 'The Myth'
Steve Jobs was no Messiah and the messianic outpouring from those who cannot adequately temper their surprise or emotions needs to be quelled or they will rip apart everything the guy really was. Eventually, 'The Myth' will not enhance 'The Man' but serve only to destroy him
Thanks Steve, You were a Dude. An innovator, an inventor, a mentor, a philanthropist, an industrialist and a billionaire. Thank you for my computer and the operating system and my iPhone. I'm truly grateful, you changed the way I want to live and do live.
Rest in Peace...and I hope that everyone will do the same and shut up and let your great history tell itself.
Ewen
Author
Ewen Rankin