DATELINE: June 25, 2003

 

A 25-year-old Filipino man has been stabbed dead for singing a Frank Sinatra classic out of tune during a birthday party.

 

Police officer Noel Albis said the victim, Casimiro Lagugad, was asked to sing Sinatra's popular song My Way during the party in Manila on Sunday.

 

"Witnesses said the suspect, Julio Tugas, 48, one of the guests and a neighbor of the victim, got irked because Lagugad was singing out of tune," Officer Albis said.

 

"Tugas suddenly attacked the victim and stabbed him in the neck," he added.

 

Guests rushed Mr Lagugad to the hospital, but he died while being treated. Police are preparing homicide charges against the suspect, who apparently admitted to the crime.

This is truly a tale for our times. Popular culture lionizes the individual who defies convention. But try it yourself at your peril.

When, after a decade of exploring, I left my corporate career, I copped a lot of flak. Colleagues who had fantasized about re-designing their working lives now had unwelcome proof that this was actually possible. Fantasies aren't threatening; real, live possibilities are. 

People sought to discredit me to take the heat off themselves. Clark's a quitter. He's walking away from his responsibilities. He's wasting his talents. He isn't being fair to his family. He's gone nutty. He'll soon realize he's blundered. He'll be back.

I was far luckier than Mr Lagudad. Nobody stabbed me in the neck. My move, however, did make me a pain in the neck to others.

I feel for Mr Tugas. No doubt he loves the heroic sentiment, "I did it my way." So do I.

But would Mr Tugas let Mr Lagudad do it his way? No way.