…and this is a 
Michael Young was a nasty old Christian bigot who lived a long life and left his fortune to his relatives. Apparently,though, fundamentalist hate isn't necessarily heritable, and one of those relatives, who I think is named Anthony Perry, established the Michael Young Fund, and is handing out the money to…well, follow the link. Let's just say it's a good thing there is no afterlife, or he'd be seething in even greater torment.
Just to forestall the usual whines, what if this happened to me, and I left money to my kids and one of them used the capital to hand out cash to organizations I disliked? I'd be dead, first of all, so I wouldn't care; and I would leave what little money have to my kids to do with as they'd like, not as I'd like, so I wouldn't have grounds to complain anyway.
Comments
Posted by: vanharris
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November 27, 2009 11:40 AM
Jumpin' Jeezus, that's spooky. I had a similar conversation with one of my daughters, about a deceased relative, a couple of hours ago.
Of course, the religious goobers don't understand about coincidence.
Posted by: RM | November 27, 2009 11:43 AM
I'm surprised he left any money to somebody who obviously had disgust for him. He must have hid his disgust well.
Posted by: daveau
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November 27, 2009 11:44 AM
That's really great. I especially like the part: "...where possible, to ones [charities] he would have disapproved of." Beautiful.
Posted by: My Lord! | November 27, 2009 11:46 AM
I don't know how Anthony can stand it. I mean, with no afterlife and genes being the only thing we pass along, a quarter of Anthony's genes must be rolling in their double helix. Great idea.
Posted by: Brownian, Most Vicious & Petty of Pharyngulites
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November 27, 2009 11:48 AM
I'd really like one of our biblical literalist friends to explain why it is the vast majority of Christians don't see a problem with the bolded words in the quote.
Posted by: Alyson Miers | November 27, 2009 11:59 AM
Mr. Young should've thought about that before he lived out his life as a model douchenozzle and then left his money to his descendants instead of foundations. Then again, I suppose it's just like a racist douche to assume his progeny share his prejudices.
Posted by: Islander | November 27, 2009 12:04 PM
pwned
Posted by: anonymous bloger | November 27, 2009 12:04 PM
This is a genuinely good-news story :)
His legacy being used to undo a little of the damage he caused. It's like in fairy tales where the last wish is the one which attempts to undo the damage caused by the preceding ones.
http://carnifexinsania.blogspot.com/
Posted by: cameron | November 27, 2009 12:14 PM
Well, if the old dead guy doesn't like it, let him do something about it.
Posted by: Knockgoats | November 27, 2009 12:15 PM
I'll send this story to Searchlight a UK anti-fascist magazine to which I subscribe. I'm sure they'll be delighted!
Posted by: Peter G.
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November 27, 2009 12:25 PM
Sound practice dictates that one should spend one's last dime with one's last breath. The best thing you can leave your kids are sound ethical principles.
Posted by: tsg | November 27, 2009 12:30 PM
[python]I wish to register a complaint![/python]
Posted by: AnneH | November 27, 2009 12:39 PM
I like this Anthony person. My kind of guy!
I've been reading something recently that I think is relevant to Michael Young's cognitive dissonance that Brownian points out.
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/
It's a book the author posted online to be read for free - The Authoritarians. Bob Altemeyer is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Manitoba, and his book is the result of years of research on authoritarian personalities.
He describes quite clearly what we find so baffling about people like creationists, and why they think like they do.
It's most enlightening. Enjoy.
Posted by: Slaughter | November 27, 2009 12:45 PM
What a terrific use of that bequest. The post adds:
"If you like the idea of making small grants to decent people but don't want to set up your own fund, email a request for some of these cards to anthony@evelynwilliams.com. You can use them yourself or ask us to post on your 'grant' if you want to remain anonymous."
I'll send him 100 bucks to help him replenish his fund.
Posted by: Soon-to-be-inheritor | November 27, 2009 1:34 PM
As someone who will be doing something like this in the near future, I have to remind everyone that you really shouldn't publicize this trick too widely.
The kinds of people who have "fortunes" to leave usually have legal and financial advisers who are not likely to be liberal-do-gooders themselves. If the two people in my family get a whiff that I might do this (and they can imagine that I would from what they know), they would lock down their estates in legalese by close of business today.
Don't clue your enemies into your plans, so they don't know to hide the family heirlooms until it's too late.
Posted by: Louis | November 27, 2009 1:46 PM
If my email was the inspiration for this, thanks very much PZ. If it wasn't.....hey, thanks very much PZ!
;-)
Louis
Posted by: PlaydoPlato | November 27, 2009 1:55 PM
I've found that it's really difficult for Xtards to wrap their minds around the concept of death. They just don't get it.
I explain it to them with two words: Hakuna matata, no worries, cause when you're dead brother, you're dead.
Posted by: daveau
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November 27, 2009 2:15 PM
AnneH@13
Thanks for that link. It is making a boring day far more interesting.
Posted by: Disturbingly Openminded | November 27, 2009 3:26 PM
#15 soon-to-be-inheritor: "The kinds of people who have "fortunes" to leave usually have legal and financial advisers who are not likely to be liberal-do-gooders themselves."
Now just wait a sec. I'm a liberal do-gooder who advises people with fortunes. You might be pleasantly surprised at the number of liberal do-gooders amongst both advisers and advisees. Not a majority, I concede. But probably many more than most liberal do-gooders seem to think.
Posted by: Jessie | November 27, 2009 4:43 PM
I would also call myself a 'liberal do-gooder' adviser, so am sorry that 'soon-to-be-inheritor' has such a poor opinion of us.
Of course, I really wanted to be a lion-tamer.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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November 27, 2009 4:45 PM
Soon-to-be-inheritor
Looks like you can kiss the yacht goodbye.
Posted by: Soon-to-be-inheritor | November 27, 2009 4:58 PM
I know the people in question and I know the people they hire to assist them.
Does anyone here think that hate filled Christian televangelists use ACLU lawyers for their private legal work?
If you are a liberal do-gooder lawyer you are probably not on retainer and in charge of the will and trust documents of wealthy bigots. Or else you're not sleeping much at night.
Posted by: DemetriusOfPharos | November 27, 2009 4:59 PM
Why is it that every time I find out someone out there has the same name as I do, they almost inevitably turn out to be douchebags?
Posted by: Nominal Egg | November 27, 2009 5:27 PM
Cosmic harmony. All things inevitably balance.Posted by: Brownian, Most Vicious & Petty of Pharyngulites
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November 27, 2009 6:18 PM
Soon-to-be-inheritor isn't that far off the mark.
In fact, I know of a liberal do-gooder who left the field of financial advisory because he felt the industry was at odds with his goal of helping people.
So instead, he wrote a book.
I'm sure it won't sell though, because it mentions sensible advice like not spending money you don't have on layaway sofas and overpowered cars while working at McDonald's. Also, successful financial books have titles like "What Colour Are Your Rich Dad's 7 Habits?".
Posted by: Cowcakes
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November 27, 2009 7:04 PM
What a wonderful story. Now if only the pope could beqeath the welath of the Roman Catholic Chruch to someone who would give the money to victims of child abuse etc.
Posted by: Moopheus | November 27, 2009 7:53 PM
Hah, that's as good as the widow of misogynist industrialist Russel Sage using his money to found a college for women.
Posted by: Disturbingly Openminded | November 27, 2009 11:11 PM
Inheritor: "I know the people in question and I know the people they hire to assist them."
You evidently do not know enough of them.
"Does anyone here think that hate filled Christian televangelists use ACLU lawyers for their private legal work?"
I didn't even know that was the standard.
Brownian: "In fact, I know of a liberal do-gooder who left the field of financial advisory because he felt the industry was at odds with his goal of helping people."
An N of 1. I don't find your evidence compelling.
Posted by: Soon-to-be-inheritor | November 28, 2009 12:22 AM
Disturbed, why don't you tell us all about these two relatives then, since you know so much more about them than I do.
Are you unable to read?
Posted by: Samantha Vimes | November 28, 2009 7:01 AM
Soon-to-be, I wish you the best of luck.
Posted by: Carrot Ironfoundersson | November 28, 2009 3:43 PM
#30
Sam Vimes?
Nice!
Posted by: The Librarian | November 28, 2009 3:50 PM
Ook!
Posted by: Bex Holmes
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November 28, 2009 4:23 PM
I have to say the entire premise is a brilliant idea, such a shame more people dont do it (money going to good causes not for the sake of going against the persons ideals). I suppose however if one of my decendants (excuse spelling) did use any money left to them for causes that I was avidly against then hmmm I dunno I wouldnt like it, but as brilliantly pointed out as its after death youll never have the foggiest.
The best way to get round such a potential predicament is indeed to make sure you you donate some of your estate to causes you think worthy, and at least youll have a say in where your money goes. Personally that would be environmental and humanist charities...just gotta get round to drawing up a will now!! lol
Great blog by da way :)
Posted by: Jonathan Dore | December 5, 2009 1:54 PM
I don't know who this "Michael Young" was, but to avoid traducing the reputation of an admirable man you should perhaps clarify that he *wasn't* the well-known Michael Young (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Young_(politician)) who founded the Open University and the National Consumer Council, wrote the Labour Party's 1945 manifesto, was latterly a Labour peer, and in his late 70s promoted the idea of secular naming ceremonies in place of baptisms. Since he died at an advanced age (87) at around the same time (2002) as this other Michael Young, I wouldn't like to think of people getting the wrong impression ...