Factory Fives Holiday Message about "Christmas 2012 and Newtown, Connecticut"

[Woofer01]

Dave
I read your message this evening where you expressed your feelings on the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I have followed your posts for a number of years now and have come to respect your views on not just running a business, but how you steered your company through some very sensitive issues. Your message on New Town is right on the mark and while they're are all sort of political issues and views that you could have taken a stand on... you took the high road. Your belief that there are better times ahead if we all just make an positive effort and as you put it in your message, "...simply to light my own candle and dedicate each small act of kindness this season to the precious memory of those children and good people lost last week." is the right way to respond to this senseless act of madness. I hope that everyone here lights at least one candle and makes someone smile this holiday season.

[trublue]

Woofer,
I would like to add my thanks to Dave Smith for the elegant and heartwarming Christmas message he sent to us all. His personal connection to Newtown, CT and reaction to the horrific crime we all abhor added to the strength of his words. My appreciation for Dave and the Factory Five Racing family continues to grow. I wish the world could read his message and embrace his advice. May peace reign this holiday season.

[Cobradavid]

I think the quote from Dave's dad should be elevated to "Proverb" status! There's a great deal of wisdom packed in these words:
“Are you going to curse the darkness or light a candle?”

Literally, a single candle removes the darkness from a dark room.
Figuratively, our seemingly-insignificant small acts of kindness have much more power than all our grumblings about the poor state of the world.

I think I'll get an early start on New Year's resolutions and challenge myself do more "candle-lighting" and less "darkness-cursing."

May you all have a blessed Christmas. Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men!

David

[Gumball]

Who would have thought that building a car can make a difference in so many lives; ours and those we meet. God bless, and may the spirit of this season bring joy and peace to your hearts.

[Kalstar]

Can someone please post the message here, I would like to read it. I saw it come in on my email, now I can not find it. Thx.

[The Stig]

Hello All,

Here is the original post from Dave & Factory Five. Wonderful, thought prevoking words from a very good person who heads up a great group of people.

Mike

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Christmas 2012 and Newtown, Connecticut

My family has been to Newtown many times. It is where my wife Denise’s best friend Mira lived with her husband Tom and their two children, Jake and Emily. Our family spent weekends there before they moved to New Jersey some years back. Jake and Emily would have attended school at Sandy Hook Elementary. My memories of the area and people are nothing but pleasant.

In the immediate days following the Newtown school shooting, I found myself unable to even begin to comprehend the evil and hurt that had just occurred. The full realization that twenty beautiful children and six good teachers had been brutally murdered in an elementary school… Well, it was something I just could not fit into my head. People here at Factory Five were waiting for me to say something, but I had absolutely nothing that I could think to say. I am friends with a family who lost a child and I can tell you that no grand gesture can really make much of a difference. It is terrible, bitter, heart-breaking sorrow, plain and simple. In the face of those beautiful children and wonderful dedicated teachers being murdered, I certainly have no answers.

The obvious questions for all good people ... “How can we help? How can we lessen the suffering? What can we DO?” The desire to do something is magnified by the peace and beauty of the Holiday season.

Like it does in times like this, my mind went to my own family, our friends, the people at work here at Factory Five, and the Factory Five community. In this company and community I’ve been witness to amazing kindness and fellowship. I know many stories of people helping each other in truly selfless ways. These stories, I rarely retell, at risk that some would believe I might use them for marketing spin rather than what they are, which is simply people helping others and living the way we all ought to.

The Factory Five community is indeed a remarkable one where people help each other and form life-long friendships around the shared passion of building these cars. My own family has been the recipient of great kindness and generosity from customers and friends connected to the Factory Five Community. The underlying truth of Factory Five is that the cars we have built, have in turn built friendships beyond value. It’s what we all DO and what we all LOVE that has made this happen. And there is the obvious answer, and none too original at that.

We can’t heal the suffering of a sick world or really soothe the pain of those in Newtown, Connecticut. What we CAN do is what we’ve been doing, just more of it. We can take more time to spread a smile, to listen to a friend who’s down, to lend a hand to a buddy who’s busy, and to add our small amount of goodness and fellowship to the people around us this season. My dad, who is today a Deacon in the Catholic Church, used to say to me growing up, “Are you going to curse the darkness or light a candle?” Well, I guess my small answer to the evil and darkness of the Newtown murders is simply to light my own candle and dedicate each small act of kindness this season to the precious memory of those children and good people lost last week.

There is evil in the world, no doubt about it. But I believe the road ahead is bright and filled with promise. We can make it that way. I hope you join me in the effort and I hope your family enjoys a peaceful and beautiful Christmas filled with love.

Dave Smith, President