After Sid’s Passing

With the passage of a great artist and human being–Sidney Poitier, we are reminded again of the nature of life, process, change, the passing of time, and the ever-recurrent presence of Death throughout all our lives.

Much as is Donne’s “No man is an island”, a response is called for. What do we feel and think about him? What did we like or love about him while he was here? Why was he unique, special, good, great, and inspiring? And so there are many reasons for those who know or knew of him to mourn, miss, and treasure now that he’s gone physically.

Death is always with us. Look at the pictures of the family dead in our homes. Reflect on how many books or programs we’ve encountered about real people, especially the greats, who are no longer with us. Recall those we’ve known who have recently passed. Consider how much news is about death and the dead. These are reference points to death each day in our transitory lives. And as Dylan sang, “He not busy being born is busy dying.” Fact. Truth. Perspective. All within one of his many famous quotes.

Given those truths, how do we regard and treat others? Well? Kindly? Generously? Respectfully? Thoughtfully? As ends unto themselves as Kant theorized. Or as objects, things, or as used means to ends? Abused, exploited, corruptly, immorally, etc. Like dirty diapers in extreme cases as one doctor put it.

Personally, I remain buoyed by family, true friends, and the Poitiers, Martin Luther Kings, Gandhis, Bachs, Michelangelos, Rodins, Einsteins, Hawkings, Teresas, Bantings, and Shakespeares of human history and Western civilization, in particular.

Those guys who are real people, honest not phonies. People who care for the many, who bring beauty and scientific wisdom to the world. Those who shine and bring light to life. Those who empathize, sympathize and care for the good of the greatest number. Those who are the best of Us and serve as positive, inspiring role models for the younger generations to come.

Those who help rather than harm and hate others. Those who stand up for their visions and what they believe against an otherwise, widespread, howling nothingness. Decent human beings who believe in Truth, honesty, Equality, Justice, fairness, Goodness, and Beauty.

What matters, as I’ve previously noted, is, finally, our response to the deaths of those who matter, who were important, who left Us and the world a better place overall.

Inevitably, after a notable death, we are recurringly endowed with the possibility to learn and make change in ourselves and others, as did the person who went nobly before. To conclude, we are given the opportunity for new and continued life, and a chance to see more deeply into the nature of Life–what is truly meaningful, significant, permanent, and ever-lasting. A considerable privilege and legacy of real consequence to be sure.