I hate to think I could lose friends over this, but this recent trend of tragedy pissing contests kind of disgusts me.  When Whitney died, my newsfeed was flooded with posts about how ridiculous it was that people gave her death attention, but didn't give something else attention:

Next, it was Steve Jobs vs. Dennis Ritchie:

Now, it's Trayvon vs. anyone ever brutally murdered by someone of a different race:

Now, I know what you're gonna say:

Kendrick, you're missing the point.  The media wantonly disregards the Dennis Ritchies of the world just to get ratings, while the heroes and others who significantly shape our world pass well under the radar without a blip.  That's what we're saying is ridiculous.

And I completely agree.  But first understand that this is nothing new.  There will always be a cleverly crafted front page story to get people to buy copies.  You see this strategy in everything - media, politics, everywhere.  People are gonna try to sell you what they think you want to hear.  This is never going to change, no matter how many clever pictures you post on the Internet.  But what those pictures do accomplish is something you may not have intended.  

I'm sure Trayvon's parents aren't sitting at home thinking "Man, I'm thankful people are giving this so much attention...but there're so many other things in the world to worry about other than some 17 y/o kid dying.."  And I'm sure Steve Jobs' and Whitney Houston's families aren't thinking "Yeah yeah yeah, Steve/Whitney died.  Whatever.  More coverage about our troops, plz!"  

What's your point, Kendrick?

My point is when you attempt to gank limelight from other people's tragedies to sell your own overtop it, that's disrespectful and bad form, plain and simple.  I would never storm into your loved one's funeral to speak out on how insignificant it is compared to other problems in the world.  There's a time for it, a place for it, and a way to go about it.  All lives are precious to someone.  And every time you celebrate something in your life, somewhere else in the world, something horrible is happening to someone else.  

Does this mean your priorities are out of wack if you enjoy a victory while others suffer with losses?

Does this mean you're a dick for not giving a dime to every homeless man you walk by? 

Does this mean you're unpatriotic or selfish for not seeking out and shaking the hand of every troop that ever had a tour?

That way of thinking is a slippery slope.  And it promotes apathy when you imply that caring for one thing means caring for everything.  The world is full of horrors.  If you measure yourself by the percentage of them you acknowledge, you'll be chasing your tail forever.  I enjoy the fruits of the seeds sown by people like Steve Jobs and Dennis Ritchie every day, as do all of you.  I enjoy the music of Whitney Houston and those she inspired.  I enjoy the freedoms our troops work to protect.  That's the legacy they leave behind, and that's how I choose to honor them: By the very things they lived for.  And for people like Eve Carson and Trayvon Martin, I see cautionary tales.

The media is gonna be the media.

Ignorant people are gonna be ignorant people.

Haters gonna hate.

Ballers gonna ball.

Fish gonna swim.

Birds gonna fly.

And honey badger is never gonna care.

 

And now to conclude this rant with a seemingly pretentious Gandhi quote: