Please remember one year since his passing today on his birthday: Sept 11, 2005.


1000 cranes were offered as a parting gift. We'll miss you.

August 2004

Our regular meeting this week has been cancelled, but I think it would be appreciated if we all got together this Thursday to talk. Everyone who knew Ben at one time or another and for those who wish to join us, please meet together in the piano area this week get together to talk about our friend, support each other, console the other vehicle passengers who I'm sure are shaken, and find a way to show a sign of respect to his family.

If you would like to contact Terry who is still in the hospital please let him know you're thinking about him. You can also talk with Tom on his live journal. Already some of you have left comments for him.

Ironically, the event that we went to watch was one that honored those who have passed away. At 8 pm we left the hospital where Rick, Milene, and Tom were being watched and we went to the lighting of the lanterns ceremony "which, in accordance with Japanese custom, guide the departure of ancestors souls". Cedric was able to honor Ben with a lantern that said:

"To: Ben Feld
From: Everyone At AGA
Where ever you are, Live the good life"

Also, for those who wish to participate, I want to offer something to his family from each of us. After we got a call from Milene around 2:00 am, James taught us how to fold origami cranes and Sabrina, Jenni and I started folding them. I know it's just symbolic, but I want to offer something to his family from all of his friends and I think this would be something we can all try. Here is the legend that I remember about Peace Cranes:

A young Japanese girl laid dying from radiation sickness a decade after the bombing in Hiroshima. She started to fold 1,000 cranes so that she could live. She died before she could complete her task. Her classmates folded the remaining cranes so that she was buried with One Thousand Cranes.


More true to his nature, here is the way I think he would have wanted to be remembered - pretending to smoke next to a no smoking sign, and dressed as Lupin taking part in the mecha panel in the first Yasumi Con.



Anthony reminded us last night that one thing Ben wanted to do but was never able to is to complete is a petition to 4Kids Entertainment for an uncut One Piece dvd. This is something that I would like to make sure happens.

From: ben feld
Date: Thu Jun 10, 2004 2:09 am
Subject: One Piece fan form letter

I'm sending out a copy of a form letter I've written to 4kids asking for uncut DVDs, attached is the letter in text format, if the letter needs something either added or take it out, feel free to do so or just fill in your name and sign it then mail it off to the Address indicated, granted it's easier to email this but snail-mail is proven to be more effective in cases like this, anyone can fire off an email but going this extra step will show them how serious we are about this, I can't speak for others in the club but I for one would hate to see a great show like One Piece end up like so many of 4kids previous works and with your help we may yet be able to prevent that.

Sincerely, Ben Feld, AGA Vice-president
founder of OSPCREA
Otaku society for the prevention of cruel and ridiculous edits to anime

4kids Entertainment
148 Madison Avenue
16th Floor PH-1
New York, NY 10016


To whom it may concern

First off, let me applaud the company's decision to release uncut versions of Shaman King and Yu-gi-oh, I know fans of both series are ecstatic over this decision and are ready and willing to purchase said DVDs upon their release to the public; However I am writing this letter for a different reason I am a fan of the anime series "One Piece" and was previously informed that 4Kids entertainment has acquired the licensing rights to what I can honestly say is my favorite anime. I am not asking for the show to be aired uncut, rather that the same courtesy is extended to One Piece fans as was extended to the fans of the other aforementioned titles and release One Piece in edited as well as uncut DVD formats. If this were the case, I and many people I know they would eagerly purchase the series on a regular basis and would continue to do so as long as they were under the impression that the series they love so much was being treated in a respectful manner.

Sincerely,


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