This Opinion Piece is dedicated to the assholes who think it’s okay to attack people for morning over the death of Kobe Bryant. 

Greatness is summed up by some by the effects people have on others as they live. Legends are summed up by the effects they have on people when they die. 

On Sunday, January 26th Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash. The world was shocked. A sports icon and a loving father was gone.

Seven other individuals were killed in the crash: John, Keri, and Alyssa Altobelli; Sarah and Payton Chester; Christian Mauser and Ara Zobayan. Their will be remembered.

Being human means your heart aches when learning about human suffering, especially for the family members left behind.

Well, I guess it depends on the type of human you choose to be.

For some people, this was the perfect opportunity for them to prove to the world that they are superior. How dare we cry over an athlete whenever soldiers are dying overseas and at home.

On social media people like to show their virtue and why they are better than everyone else. And what better time than when a sporting icon passes. That hit of dopamine feels too damn good.

Every day people die. Every day families mourn over their loved ones and remember their lives. We don’t know about every single person that passes, so we don’t feel the same effect.

Let go of your ego and know that Bryant’s life had a lasting impact on the lives of millions of people. Some grew up watching him and yelling his name as they shot on the court to signal to people around them that the shot was going in. I know people who decided to play basketball because they watched him. He was their inspiration.

I never loved basketball, but that doesn’t matter, because I have the empathy to notice that others do.

A piece of you dies when your hero dies, and it’s tough to stomach that loss.

I felt this way when Rush’s lyricist and drummer Neal Peart passed away earlier in January due to brain cancer. I looked up to him as a musician and as a man. This death hit home.

He was as influential to my life as some family members and friends are. I’ve always been into politics, and I am extremely curious about understanding political philosophy and why people follow different principles. And Peart’s lyrics guided me on this journey, unlike anything I had read or tried to understand before.

I grew up as a republican, and this was my first step into Libertarianism. He wrote about the individual and their fight against the mob and collectivism. He wrote about honesty and hard work, and what it means to create something from nothing.

Not only that, but he is known as the best drummer of all time. Dave Grohl nicknamed him, “The Professor” in his honor and for being the teacher for a generation of musicians

From Bryant’s first game to his last, we tracked his growth; compared seasons, and discussed his future. The same thing was true for Peart, from when he joined Rush in 1974 to their final tour in 2015.

We are merely travelers to our heroes on their journey.

So, respect others, and when people mourn. Let them mourn. Everyone has heroes. Show respect.