Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Paul Walker, R.I.P.

I don't know if you've heard this, but Paul Walker died in a car crash. Of course, the Internet is divided between people who are sad about Paul Walker's death and people who say, "Why should I care? Because he's a celebrity? Good people die everyday and no one makes a fuss about them!". This short post will address why one should research an issue a little before leaking verbal diarrhea all over the Intertubes.

I did a little research into the man after reading some scathing posts about his death on Facebook. Here is a snippet of what I found.

Paul Walker, aside from starring in many blockbuster movies, was a humanitarian. He had his own charity, Reaching Out World Wide (www.roww.org) that provided fast aid to victims of natural disasters. He donated his time, fame, and money to help those who were affected in Haiti, the USA (massive tornadoes - it doesn't just happen in the third world), and the Philippines. In short, he was man who used his gifts to help those who needed help. By every account I read, Paul Walker was a standup guy trying to make a difference in the world. His family vows to continue supporting people that need help around the world.

Here's some perspective. A young girl lost her father. Millions of fans around the world lost a man who could momentarily divert their attention from a world that can be a harsh and terrible place. An organization that does good on a global scale lost its founder and its main spokesman.

He didn't wear a uniform. He wasn't a police officer, firefighter, EMT, or veteran, but he set out to make a difference and make the world a better place. Before you tell me why we should be lauding local emergency services workers instead of Paul Walker, tell me what gives you the right to decide what contributions matter and which ones don't.

RIP Paul. Your contributions to the world of cinema and to disaster relief will be missed.

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