There is Room

On Sunday, January 26, the NBA, the sports world, and the entire globe experienced a tragedy that rocked most down to their very core. Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others were involved in a helicopter crash that left no survivors. With the exception of a few, the whole nation seems to be mourning his loss.

In a few recent Facebook posts that I have opened to read the comments, I have seen all types of emotions. In particular, there were a couple of comments about how we lost a helicopter full of military personnel the same day that carried 3x’s the amount of lives on it. Some commented that it was five years ago, and people need to get their facts straight, others stated they agreed and our military needs to be honored more, and others just proceeded to honor or attack at Kobe.

Several thoughts flooded my mind. Each and every life of the aforementioned mattered. Period. Everyone in this world trying to do better and make the world a better place deserves to be honored in a respectful manner. The world wouldn’t run if everyone had the same job. We can mourn both. We really can. I do. 

Kobe lived his life in the spotlight, so his death will be in the spotlight as well. Our military are the type of people who care about protecting and making our world a better place, no matter the spotlight or sacrifice. It’s how the cookie crumbles. 

Some seemed to write the military crash off because it was five years ago. I did not agree with that and it doesn’t make this day any easier for those mourning the loss of their soldiers. Vanessa Bryant will tell you in five years it hasn’t gotten any easier. They are all mourning; she just has to do it in the public eye; this is just fresher.

I do wish the loss of each and every one of our military members was mourned more as a nation, and our wounded had more support upon their arrival from overseas. It is still happening every day. That’s why I love what I do so much at the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes.

Anyways, my point is we all need to soften our hearts. It shouldn’t be a competition over whose life was more important. As a nation, we should protect, lift up, and support one another. Just because Kobe was high-profile and in the public eye doesn’t mean he should be criticized for a high-profile death. I just thought I would take the opportunity to give a gentle reminder of those working and giving their lives behind the scenes. We have room to mourn the both.