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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 11:35 AM EDT

When I was a little girl, around six or seven, I was cruel. I don't mean I intended to be, and maybe that is too big a word, but I was thoughtless. I'll give you an example. There was, in our neighborhood group of kids, one little girl who was mentally slow. And we all took delight in making fun of her. I was the ring leader.

I know. It's awful. But I always tell you the truth, and that is the truth.

One day, we were playing on the dead-end street I lived on, and there was construction going on. There was a hole in the ground of the alleyway, with a plank over the hole, with water and mud below.

I thought it would be fun and funny and take turns walking the plank, and the funny part was, I was sure that Betsy, the slower child, would not be able to do it.

Sure enough, when it was her turn, she gamely tried and fell into the mud, and started crying. We all burst out laughing.

A neighbor had a college-aged son, and he had a friend visiting that day, and he saw what we did. He didn't know us at all, but he spotted that I was the ringleader of the cruel fun, and he came and got down on my level and told me very clearly, looking straight into my eyes with sincerity, that when people act the way I did, others get hurt, not only physically, but their feelings hurt too, and he described what those feelings would be, like the Proverb, that says there exist companions who like to break one another to pieces. And he said I must never do anything like that again.

I never forgot that feeling or his eyes. It was like I had been hit by lightning, seeing his honest distress and having Betsy's feelings described for me. For whatever reason, I had never before thought of what the victim of my behavior might feel. Isn't that amazing? We're not born with empathy, I guess, or at least I wasn't, and someone had to teach it to me.

Anyway, that is how I learned empathy, and I will be forever grateful to George for explaining it to me. And he would be proud of me, I hope, because I never again in my life was knowingly cruel to anyone, thanks to a stranger who took the time to teach me that other people have feelings and that I can deeply affect them.

Sometimes when you are a public figure, people think you have no feelings, that they can say whatever they wish, and you just have to endure it. And when you had no intention of becoming a public figure, unlike Madonna who craved it, but instead end up willy nilly thrust into the public eye due to a lawsuit or some other event beyond your control, the sheer cruelty with which some pick you apart and assume the worst of your motives and goals is a real shock. I've experienced it myself to some degree, so I don't have to just imagine it. Something like that happened to Val Kreidel.

I received an email from Brent Noorda yesterday, asking if I would be willing to publish a statement from him, clarifying the record and defending his sister's memory.

When I read what he wrote, it brought tears to my eyes, because what happened can't be undone.

Here is Mr. Noorda's statement:

Much has been written about my sister, Val Kreidel, by those who never knew or met her. From following the media coverage, I can tell that most publications value journalistic standards and are concerned with reporting correct information. Others are in stark contrast when, in covering the same information, they seem to care more about drama and influencing the market than about truth and common decency.

But the journalistic integrity of any publication is defeated when articles, such as those recently appearing in the Salt Lake Tribune, include quotes from “analysts” who are completely misleading and just plain wrong about nearly every fact and interpretation. When the information provided by analysts like Rob Enderle and Laura DiDio weren’t incorrect, their statements represented speculation more fitting to a daytime soap opera than to the business section of a newspaper.

I would like to set the record straight: Val never expected financial gain from Canopy for herself or any of her four siblings. She was never the driving force of lawsuits, nor did she ever pull the strings of Bill Mustard or have any other interest in running things at Canopy; her role was only as an adviser based on her experience in finances. Val did play a role in a foundation set up by the Noordas, which yearly gives millions of dollars, anonymously, to various charities, but that is entirely independent from Canopy. So Canopy has no leadership vacuum, but is instead finally in the hands of a seasoned professional, hired for his qualified background and proven abilities, and overseen and scrutinized by an independent board of directors -- this puts Canopy in the strongest position it has held in recent years.

I have no clue where a statement about heart failure could have originated. As a statement regarding all press I believe it is correct to say that in the past year Val's families (Noorda and Kreidel) have not told anything to any reporter or to the press in any way, directly or through any intermediary, except two short press releases (the settlement statement and the short confirmation of Val's passing). Any other information that was reported had to have come from other sources.

The inaccuracies and accusations hurt. In recent months there have been many such speculative accusations in newspapers and journals, and especially on the internet. In particular these accusations have centered on my sister, Val Kreidel, and they have caused immeasurable pain. Val did nothing more nor less than to provide emotional support to my parents after they came to believe that the results of their positive lifetime legacy, meant to provide benefit to the many hardworking people of Utah valley, were being misappropriated for the benefit of just a few self-serving individuals. As I said at my sister’s funeral, “Val was always the first to provide help to her family, to friends, and to strangers, many of whom will never know that it was Val who provided the assistance.” In the Canopy legal situation, Val was only doing what she always did, which was to help, no matter the personal sacrifice (which in this case was ultimately too great).

For some reason, Val was singled out and labeled as a villain, and so Val suffered the relentless hammering of opposing lawyers for months. Val seemed unable to stop herself from reading the fantastic fictions of analysts in the papers, and the idle speculations of unknown accusers on the internet. The onslaught was too much.

Why did the lawsuits and slanderous analysts and anonymous internet posters pick on Val Kreidel in making their accusations of greed and ulterior motives? They could as well have chosen me, or any of my siblings, or any friend assisting my parents. Indeed, in this suit-happy society they could have chosen to direct their hurtful scorn at any person who tries to help another. Why must they assume the worst of motivations? Why not accept the simplest and most correct motivation: that a daughter simply answered the request for help from her aged parents.


  


Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight | 194 comments | Create New Account
Comments belong to whoever posts them. Please notify us of inappropriate comments.
Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 02:36 PM EDT
Mr Noorda's statement speaks for itself, it needs no
comment, discussion or anaysis. Let it stand.

[ Reply to This | # ]

OT Here, as usual
Authored by: overshoot on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 02:40 PM EDT
And as usual, please if you post links post in HTML and make them <a
href="http://www.example.com">clickable</a>

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 02:41 PM EDT
Our condolences to Mr Noorda and his family and to Val's many friends. Thank you
PJ for posting this.

I have seen many hurtful postings about Val, and a number of posters who raise
the cry that "they can say anything they like, they won't be censored, they
will act fearlessly to expose.....etc etc". All they expose is their lack
of humanity. Some people need to learn the lessons of life.

Thank you Mr Noorda for your letter.

Completelyot.

[ Reply to This | # ]

All the news that's fit to print
Authored by: overshoot on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 02:46 PM EDT
As journalism schools (at least used to) teach, "All the news that's fit to print" places a heavy responsibility on reporters to decide just what is fit to print. It's a sad comment on our society that they so often decide as they do.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: inode_buddha on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 02:52 PM EDT
I stand all amazed that such things need to be said, and offer sympathies to the
Noorda's, and the GL community in general (having had family members in similar
situations myself).

EOM

---
-inode_buddha
Copyright info in bio

"When we speak of free software,
we are referring to freedom, not price"
-- Richard M. Stallman

[ Reply to This | # ]

Thank you Brent
Authored by: LarryVance on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 02:56 PM EDT
Brent,

Thank you for providing this letter to PJ and letting her post it. I am sorry
for your loss and I feel disgust at what the MSM (mainstream media) does to
individuals in order to promote an agenda that is usually very selfish.

I am glad to hear that Val was coming to the aid of your parents and I truly do
feel sympathy for you and your family.

---
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR INFLUENCE!
Larry Vance

[ Reply to This | # ]

  • Thank you Brent - Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 03:57 PM EDT
  • Thank you Brent - Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 03:59 PM EDT
Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: seanlynch on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 03:05 PM EDT
Thank you for taking the time to say these things.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: pooky on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 03:09 PM EDT
My deepest condolences to the Noorda's for their loss. This is an unfortunate
example of the utter lack of decency that seems to exist with many journalists
and analysts these days. They say whatever gets people to read their comments,
which often leave the truth by the wayside. It is very unfortunate that Ms.
Kreidel’s death is the result of such carelessness on the parts of others.

I feel safe in predicting that this letter will draw a loathsome response from
the mentioned analysts in defending what they write. After all, analysts are
paid to speculate, right? I guess the cost of actions doesn’t matter in our
“moral values” based society.

-pooky


---
If at First You Don't Succeed, Skydiving Isn't for You.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 03:10 PM EDT
I think it is a magnificent testament to the integrity of PJ that Mr. Noorda
would ask her to post this statement.

My condolences to the Noorda and Kreidel families.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Toon Moene on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 03:14 PM EDT
> But the journalistic integrity of any publication is
> defeated when articles, such as those recently appearing
> in the Salt Lake Tribune, include quotes from “analysts”
> who are completely misleading and just plain wrong about
> nearly every fact and interpretation. When the information
> provided by analysts like Rob Enderle and Laura DiDio
> weren’t incorrect, their statements represented
> speculation more fitting to a daytime soap opera than to
> the business section of a newspaper.

Sigh.

Only now I realize (and this is certainly due to my own insensitivity - I'm from
Amsterdam) that we can make fun of these "analyses" all day, but they
*do* hurt people.

Thanks, Brent, for the courage of writing this and PJ for posting it.

I'm much wiser now than I was yesterday - or ever before.

---
Toon Moene (A GNU Fortran maintainer and physicist at large)

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Darkelve on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 03:25 PM EDT
Also my condolences to the Noorda and Kreidel families.

And thank you for being so courageous as to try to explain the situation.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Dear Mr Norda
Authored by: fishyfool on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 03:30 PM EDT
We are all saddened by your sisters death.
We are deeply saddened that you had to publicly state the facts of your sisters
untimly demise in order to clear the air of the stench blown in by the
inaccurate reporting of her death.
We are saddened most of all by the admission we have to make that we all ran
away mentally and verbally when silence was the most appropriate action.

[ Reply to This | # ]

I don't remeber any negative criticism of Val
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 03:31 PM EDT
...either here or at Yahoo.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Sauja on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 03:50 PM EDT
The answer to your last questions ("Why must they assume the worst of
motivations? Why not accept the simplest and most correct motivation?") is
quite simple.

We interpret other people actions through our own moral looking glass.

Much as people like your sister assume other are being helpful and upfront and
honest, people who are incapable of such things cannot fathom that others might
be.

It tells you alot about a person when they always see the worst in people.

Peace to you and your family.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Thank you Mr Noorda
Authored by: johan on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 04:19 PM EDT
Thank you Mr Noorda for having the strength to try to see the good in this
community, despite the bad things said in and around this whole tragedy, and the
resulting loss of your sister.

All I can do is to wish you and your extended family -- my heart aches for your
sisters children... no, for all of you -- that you will be able to move on. I
know it can not be undone, but in the end, I believe that the good work of your
father and your family will be the legacy that survives. In the end, that will
be the way the Noordas and Kreidels will be remembered.

Peace be with you.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Bullies
Authored by: Observer on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 04:25 PM EDT
In the case of "professional" journalists, I think we have a right to expect better. These people are supposed to be professionals, to check their facts, and even if they don't get everything right the first time (who on earth ever knows everything about everything?), to act with some sense of integrity.

However, in the case of the broader Internet, it is impractical to expect any kind of fairness or sensitivity. I feel for the Noordas, and there are no words to describe the pain of the passing of a brother or sister or child, especially when that passing is under stressed circumstances like this. However, the world is full of jerks, fools and just plain hurtful people. Unfortunately, there is a sizable portion of the public which never had a "George" to smack them upside the head and set them straight. I'm not even close to being a "celebrity", but I've felt the stings of stupid insensitive comments, intended simply to hurt. The world is full of bullies, and on the Internet, they can operate with impunity. They exist in online games, Usenet groups, blogs, chat rooms, and anywhere people can hide behind the mask of anonymity.

I only hope that the test of time will eventually show the Noordas, and especially Val, for who they really were at heart. I wish there was a way we could send out a whole army of Georges, but until someone finds a way to change basic human nature, I don't hold much hope that the Mean People will just go away.

---
The Observer

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: dmarker on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 04:45 PM EDT

To Brent,

My heartfelt appologies on behalf of myself and any others here who unwittingly
may have added any burden to Val's already overloaded angst.

I see it as a great compliment to PJ that you directly approached her (and thus
Groklaw) to let your thoughts be known.

Kind regards

Doug Marker

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 05:33 PM EDT
I hope that Mr. Enderle and Ms. DiDio have some sleepless nights ahead of them.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 05:55 PM EDT
I have had the privilege to discuss Brent's
observations with him, and am glad to see them in print
somewhere. I asked if he would make his comments
for an article in The Salt Lake Tribune, but he was not
comfortable in doing so; newspaper articles carrying
with them the uncertainty of others' comment and
reaction, and what he really wanted was to offer a
testimonial.
I understand his decision completely, as he does the
Tribune's repeated attempts to contact Noorda family
members and Canopy CEO Bill Mustard for comment
for its stories prior to his sister's tragic death.
Could comment from Canopy, or the Noordas,
stopped the speculation and hurtful comments on the
Internet? Probably not. Could it have provided different
perspective for my own stories? Definitely.
But none of that matters now. Indeed, it fades to
nothingness when compared to the loss suffered by
the Noordas.
I know I will never forget this. I likely will spend the rest
of my life trying to find some meaning, some lesson. All
I can think of now is to redouble my own efforts, as a
journalist and as a human being, to embrace
compassion -- and to continue to seek balance in my
stories.
That has always been a priority for me; now it can only
become more of an obsession.

Bob Mims
The Salt Lake Tribune

[ Reply to This | # ]

Who is 'dissing Val anyway?
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 06:42 PM EDT

I'm probably as active on the these message boards as anybody. I see tons and
tons of messages begging everybody to please stop bashing Val. But I don't see
the Val bashing messages in the first place.

I see Darl and Yarro bashing, I see judge bashing, I even see a lot of PJ
bashing (on yahoo). But I don't see all this Val bashing.

Even the letter does not make sense to me.

>>For some reason, Val was singled out and labeled as a villain, and so
Val suffered the relentless hammering of opposing lawyers for months<<

The lawyers were picking on Val? Sorry to learn that. I'm not sure what I'm
supposed to do.

>> Val seemed unable to stop herself from reading the fantastic fictions
of analysts in the papers, and the idle speculations of unknown accusers on the
internet. The onslaught was too much.<<

Again, who was accusing Val? What "fantastic fictions" about Val? I
have read the yahoo boards, and groklaw, just about every day for the last two
years. I haven't seen it.

>>Why did the lawsuits and slanderous analysts and anonymous internet
posters pick on Val Kreidel in making their accusations of greed and ulterior
motives?<<

Frankly, I think Noorda may be a little confused. What slanderous analysts? What
internet posters? I am beginning to think that Noorda equates dissing Canopy
with picking on Val. If so, then I can assure him that such is not the case.

>>Why not accept the simplest and most correct motivation: that a daughter
simply answered the request for help from her aged parents.<<

Because Canopy had been supporting the scoxe scam for two years. This scam was
very public, front page news on major financial publications, etc. When the scam
was going well, the Noorda's "didn't notice" ? Didn't notice that
scoxe went from under $1/share to over $22/share? Excuse my scepticism.

Furthermore, anybody who follows financial scams knows that when the sh_t hits
the fan, the big money *always* claims ignorance - even when it makes no sense.


I don't blame Val personally, I really don't know what part she may have played.
But if Noorda is asking me to stop looking into Canopy's role, or even the
Noorda's role; then he can forget it.

- walterbyrd

[ Reply to This | # ]

The Riddle of the Universe
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 07:05 PM EDT
... they came to believe that the results of their positive lifetime legacy, meant to provide benefit to the many hardworking people of Utah valley, were being misappropriated for the benefit of just a few self-serving individuals.

And doesn't that exact same thing happen time and time again to hardworking people all over this world? No doubt it will keep happening. Figure out how to solve that and you will fix the fundamental bug in everything.

For some reason, Val was singled out and labeled as a villain, and so Val suffered the relentless hammering of opposing lawyers for months.
Well she died a hero in my books, precisely because she had the courage to do the right thing and to protect her parents and family and stand up to those rip-off merchants. I only wish I had the chance to tell her as much. The open source community get criticized for being too zealous and emotional but there comes a time when standing back with cold analysis is not good enough and you have to pick sides, find something you believe in and give some real support to the people in the firing line.

[ Reply to This | # ]

born with empathy
Authored by: xtifr on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 08:11 PM EDT

"We're not born with empathy, I guess, or at least I wasn't, and someone had to teach it to me."
Actually - according to a recent episode of Nova1 - we are born with empathy. It seems to be tied fairly closely to the facial-recognition circuitry in the brain. So it works best close-up. And, like the language centers of the brain, it needs training to work properly. Anyway, they now have photographs of what they believe to be the specific areas of the brain where empathy occurs.

In the case you describe, I suspect that you were feeling empathy - with the other members of the mob! In fact, I suspect that our empathy circuitry has a lot to do with mob behavior - talk about a mixed blessing! :)

It's easy, and quite natural, to feel empathy with some random nearby person. What takes training is to learn when and where you should direct your empathy. And when not (sometimes it's good to avoid soaking up the depression around you). Empathy alone isn't enough - it has to be guided by intelligence and open-mindedness, which do have to be learned.

Anyway, my condolences to Brent and the rest of the Noorda clan - I know what it's like to lose a close family member. I'm not sure it's something you ever get over completely, but it does become easier with time.

1 for the non-USers and non-TV-watchers among us: Nova is a fairly well-respected weekly science program on US public television. Not an infallible source, but a generally-adequate one.

---
Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for it makes them soggy and hard to light.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 08:39 PM EDT
I'm sorry to hear about your sister's death, it's very difficult to deal with I
know how it feel's since I was only six years old when my good friends parents
killed themselves within a week of each other, and then my friend takes his own
life away 10 years later. Sadly that wouldn't be the last time either that I
had to deal with such a death.

I hope you understand that we the open source community didn't bring this
cesspool of litigation on. Your family's remarks have always been vague on how
involved they were with the onset of the litigation.

Sadly, when I read your comment, the quote from Rev. Martin Niemoeller came to
mind.

"First they came for the Gypsies, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't
a Gypsy. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a
Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a
Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time, there was no one left to
speak up for me."

All you have to do is change the Gypsies, to the open source developers, and
you can put in IBM, DaimlerChrysler, AutoZone in place of others. I don't know
your technical background, but did you not ask your self why a subsidiary you
own, could not even come up with a straight answer on its litigation, even up to
now? Now it hurts when they came after you. For an origination that you claim
was meant to serve your community, you directly assisted in trying to destroy
another.

I've always lived my life by a Chinese Proverb, "The only thing you take
with you when you're gone is what you leave behind." So I try my best to
instill in my kids about living an honest and truthful life for they are my most
cherished gift that one day I will leave behind. The community that developed
Linux, GNU projects, and countless other open source projects, live by this
proverb too. In my spare time I work on a next generation open source
development platform for GNU/Linux, because I hope as a society we can benefit
from each others work, help educate other and provide tools that allow us to
create business opportunities for ourselves and possibly future generations.
This community and it's reputation is what your litigation is trying to derail
and destroy.

When you allow Individuals like Darl McBride, whose past litigation is a
perfect example of his character, and Ralph Yarro to lead your organization and
its subsidiary the outcome you see today is what your expected to get.
Individuals like these are the scum of society, who have no qualms about
stepping over their common man to pursue their own greed. Sadly that is the
second person now in Canopy that has taken their own life away, was all this
worth it, so a few persons in upper management can get rich on stock options,
that were never realized by hard work, but litigation? I hope your family can
come out, and right these wrongs, so that at least something good comes out of
these individual's lives...

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: ghost on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 08:41 PM EDT
Mr. Noorda, My sympaties goes to you and your family.

Thank you PJ, for allowing Mr. Noorda to make his statement, and thank you, Mr.
Noorda, for allowing us to take part of your views and feelings.


[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Bas Burger on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 08:46 PM EDT
First of all my condolences Mr. Noorda.

I am afraid that it is very hard to undo bad lipservice done by people that call
themselfs analists or consultants or independant journalist.
They know that their damaging statement are allways more powerfull than any
right doing statements done afterwards.
They are just the receiving part of the PR cashflow that is pumped through each
year by companies and people that use politics to get their stuff done instead
of competing on merits.
Large part of their way of making money is to scare people into doing or giving
up things.
The lousy part is that, certainly in the United States, the mass is in constant
paranoia and is kept that way for political purposes and petty cash.
The people are very easy to manipulate, like distracted with the hype of the
day, while behind their back things like the PATRIOT and other human rights
infringing acts.
People like DiDio are those that serve to distract people from the real issues
and get quite rich from doing that.
Though they are only little puppets in the BIG game.

Still best we can do is exactly what we are doing here and now, talking about it
and bringing things into the open.
And saying things as clear as posible is important too, if your intentions are
clear then they are very hard to politicize by others.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight- thanks, Brent!
Authored by: chaz_paw on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 08:48 PM EDT
I read this story right before we ate dinner. I was affected and moved by Brent
Noorda's statement, PJ's as well. I told my family (wife, daughter, and
grandkids) a brief history of the events. I also told them that this article was
one most everybody should read.

Mr. Noorda, my condolences to you and your entire family for what you have gone
through. PJ, once again you shine by example, revealing to us bit by bit
excerpts of, and glimpses into, your life. Thank you both.

---
Proud SuSE user since 07/26/04

Charles

[ Reply to This | # ]

More than ever
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 08:49 PM EDT
Like I said in a previous post:

"What hotly issued words during battle have never come back to cause
reflection after the felling of an opponent?

What arrogant gestures never return to show us our weakneses?

What outrage never reflects our fears?

What act of kindness has ever been unjustified?"

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: fLameDogg on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 09:03 PM EDT
My condolences to the Noordas.

---
fD

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: toads_for_all on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 09:42 PM EDT
<< Val never expected financial gain from Canopy for herself or any of her
four siblings.>>

Brent,

Please know that despite what the O'Garas, Enderles, Didios and other so-called
journalists may have written, there were those of us who understood from the
start what Val was trying to do. We understood that she only wanted to insure
that your father's charitable works continue on.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 10:03 PM EDT
Thank You

For revealing the the real person behind the news headlines.
Sometimes we forget that the people we read about are fallable human beings just
like us.

Gunillablue

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 10:44 PM EDT
Thank you Brent. You write with uncommon wisdom. You honor us greatly.

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All of this started with Yarro.
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 10:53 PM EDT
All of this started with Yarro. Remember that.

- He brought in his buddie Darl McBride

- Yarro is, by his own admission, "no respector of persons"

- He would rather see his own "utter destruction" then let a
competitor win

- He probably has a confidence problem, as he was completely unqualified to
make the money he did at Canopy and wield the power he had (he was only a
graphics artist by trade)

QUESTION: Has Yarro ever fessed up to his own responsibility in this terrible
mess the last two years, that has ended in two horrible deaths? This is a very
serious matter for him. His legal culpability in this is huge, but his ethical
and moral culpability is even greater.

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 11:44 PM EDT
I lost my sister in 1976. I still miss her every day, and in my case the reason
was beyond our control, as she died of cancer. I can't imagine the pain, anger,
hurt and bitterness that I would feel if I felt, even for a moment, that she had
been hounded to death, for simply being a good person.

God Bless you Brent. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
That is much more important than anything else.

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: NastyGuns on Friday, April 08 2005 @ 12:36 AM EDT

I lost a sister 3 days after Christmas in 1978, a grandfather (actually a step) in 1979, and a father on Easter in 1983. For perspective, I was barely 11-yrs old in 78.

To the Noorda and Kreidel families, please accept my sincere condolences and prayers in this trying time. While time will bring some measure of comfort, do not allow her memory to die, celebrate her life and the great things she brought to each of your lives.

---
NastyGuns,
"If I'm not here, I've gone out to find myself. If I return before I get back, please keep me here." Unknown.

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: grayhawk on Friday, April 08 2005 @ 01:17 AM EDT
May God grant you comfort in your great loss and may those who have caused your
sister and your family such pain and grief receive their just rewards.

---
All ships are safe in a harbour but that is not where they were meant to be.

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: AH1 on Friday, April 08 2005 @ 01:41 AM EDT
After reading PJ's commentary and Brent Noorda's letter I was reminded that the
individuals on both sides of the Closed/ Open Source dispute are people.
Unfortunately, we tend to forget this when we take sides in a dispute. We
vilify those individuals who are aligned on the other side of the dispute. When
we do this we forget that these people have feelings and that those feelings
can be hurt. I commend Brent Noorda for having the courage to request that PJ
post his statement on Groklaw. I also commend PJ for posting it with a very
appropriate introduction. While I am surprised that Mr. Noorda chose Groklaw as
the medium to set the record straight, I am not surprised in the way that PJ
handled the request.
Thank you PJ and Brent for reminding me that I need to remember that the
individuals on the other side of this dispute are people too and they deserve to
be treated with respect.

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We are all very sorry for your loss
Authored by: J on Friday, April 08 2005 @ 01:54 AM EDT
Brent,

We are all very sorry for your loss. We are also sorry for
any role we may have played, even if it was to stoke the
fires on the other side. Insisting on the truth is often a
hard path, but it is always opposed by those who can't
stand the light. We are grateful to Val for what she did.

I know that I speak for many when I say that those of us
who were given the chance to be involved with companies
that Canopy funded through the years are also grateful that
we could be a part of trying to bring good things to the world.

We always knew that this was the Noorda Family's intention.

D. Jeff Dionne

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: TtfnJohn on Friday, April 08 2005 @ 02:43 AM EDT
Brent, you and your family have my deepest condolences and
sympathy.

As one who worked in the media at one time I can tell you
that, very often, the people who may be hurt by a story or
commentary on it are the last people considered. It's
like there's a rule that says "never let your sense of
morality get in the way of a good story" which, perhaps,
explains why so many moral people become journalists and
shortly leave the profession afterwards.

I don't comment often on this site, though I read it
almost daily. My major reason for doing so is that there
are enough differences in Canadian and American civil law
and how it's both tried and judged that I couldn't comment
knowledgeably. Yet it strikes me here that too often
people get hurt in that arena on both sides of the border
who are not directly involved in the proceedings.

And yes, there is a tendency on the part of journalists to
assume the worst rather than the best. It makes for a
better story/case I suppose.

As for Enderle and DiDio we in the open source community
have heard enough of their wild speculations that we
simply consider the source and dismiss them. Sadly the
general public doesn't have that luxury when they are
presented as "experts" which they most assuredly are not.

Continue your work with charity. Defend your parent's
legacy. I firmly believe in my, perhaps, naive
anglo-catholic way that good does in the end triumph.

Peace be with you and your family. Rest eternal grant Val
and may light perpetual shine upon her.

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, April 08 2005 @ 07:58 AM EDT
A mother eagle takes good care of chickens.
It takes a lot of rabits to raise the chickens.
Now, if Discovery channel runs a program on the great eagle,
I'm glad she maked a kill so she can feed the hungry chickens.

Buf if the program is about a rabit famaly,
I'm with tears in eyes for the adorable little bunnny's,
who will also starv to dead as mammy bunny does not return home.

/Arthur

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The letter speaks volumes of the society we live in
Authored by: HockeyPuck on Friday, April 08 2005 @ 10:08 AM EDT
In this modern era where such wonderful "family" shows like
"Survival", "Jerry Springer" and all the other back
stabbing, trash talking programs; should we expect anything different? We live
in a society were we soak in human pain and suffering like sun bathers soak up
the rays. Mainstream journalism has always been a little unreliable and in some
cases; downright dishonest. Tragedy sells and we love tragedy.

During 9/11 we saw images of planes flying into the towers in New York City and
stared in awe as the towers fell. We were hooked on the images of the recent
tsunami. The war in Iraq is another example. But we were ignorant to the fact
that those were powerful images of people dying. We were witnessing pain and
suffering of thousands and thousands of real people. Families of victims also
saw those images. Can you imaging seeing loved ones perishing over and over
again? I just can't imagine the torture they must have endured.

This letter speaks volumes. To those posters and journalists that insulted the
Val Kreidel and the Norda family during this crisis; shame on you. I just hope
you read this letter and look deep within yourselves for answers to your
behavior. There is always time to change.

I would like to echo sentiments and compassion of the many posters at Groklaw
towards the Norda families and I wish them all well. Our prayers are with you.

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, April 08 2005 @ 01:58 PM EDT
Thank you for indirectly posting here. It speaks volumes to me that you are
willing to do so. Your gesture is encouraging and my heart finds sympathy for
you and the family.
I hope you will consider actively participating here. The linux community has
been under the "cross hairs" that you describe Val being under for
some time. We are able to dissipate the pain by our numbers. You can be a part
of that. We need you. Welcome on board for my part.

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, April 08 2005 @ 02:23 PM EDT
I knew and worked with Ray Noorda in the 1980's when he was CEO of Novell, Inc
and I was a VP for one of Novell's distributors. While I didn't always agree
with his policies, I never had any cause to question his honesty and integrity.

I have worked with Novell as a business partner, customer and, for several
years, an employee. Again, I didn't always agree with the company's policies or
the actions of certain individuals, but my experience tells me that Novell as a
company has carried on with Ray's legacy of honesty and integrity as well.

I would expect no less than Ray's children would exhibit the same level of
integrity that Ray did, and I doubt that his daughter deserved the trashing she
received at the hands of the media.

It is a shame to see that journalistic integrity seems to have gone the way of
customer service and honesty in government.

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: Anonymous on Friday, April 08 2005 @ 05:13 PM EDT
Dear Brent Noorda,

Thank you for the post. My sympathies at the loss of Val.

Too often people like to invent ulterior motives where none exist.

Respectfully a Groklaw reader.

PJ,

Thank you for providing a forum Brent felt comfortable using. I think this
speaks volumns for your integrity.

Obviously you are doing something right.

A Groklaw Addict.

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Brent Noorda Sets the Record Straight
Authored by: trekkypj on Saturday, April 09 2005 @ 06:43 PM EDT
I just want to add to the general sentiment that has already been expressed; I
would like firstly to offer my sincere condolances to the Noorda family on
their
loss.

Secondly, it does open up a fundamental question about integrity and ethics,
both in Journalism and in society as a whole. Is it right to target individuals
for for condemnation and ridicule simply because you do not agree with them? Do
we, as humans ourselves, have a right to cause others misery? I don't believe
so. Unfortunately, we're ultimately human and make mistakes.

I didn't really follow the story as I'm an irregular Groklaw reader, but I am
shocked and saddened at what transpired. I think it shameful that a vocal
minority would target Ms. Kreidel like this and precipitate such an awful
tragedy.I just hope that they appreciate the consequences of their actions and
learn
from them. At least then something good would come of all this.

Finally, I'd like to thank PJ for sharing this with us. It shows her integrity
and her good character that she has done so. Thanks also should go to Brent
Noora for speaking out under such heartbreaking circumstances. It really made
me
stop and think about things. I hope others did too; judging from responses so
far, I'd like to think so.

Philip Murphy, Ireland

---
"I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally."
WC Fields.

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