Too Many Good People Dying Lately!

Way too many great people have been dying lately!

We started with the great Luther Vandross, a crooner whose music accompanied some of the most wistful and romantic episodes of my young life. I had hardly gotten myself together when I was again informed about the passing of James Doohan, the burly chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise in the original "Star Trek" TV series and motion pictures who responded to the command "Beam me up, Scotty”.

John Garang, The Sudanese Vice President died next. A principled and strong-willed freedom fighter, he had barely spent a month as the new VP of a united Sudan before dying in a suspicious helicopter crash. Then there was news about the demise of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, a king, who, unlike many African leaders, used the oil wealth to build his nation.

I had thought that things couldn’t possibly get worse when I turned on CNN this morning to hear of the death of Robin Cook, perhaps the only (then living) British politician that I have any respect for.

“Yeah yeah”, you might say. “People always die. It’s a fact of life”. But just like the death of a friend or relation brings the horror and pain of death closer to our hearts, that’s pretty much the way the passing of these people hurt me. In a way, they were all like friends to me, distant friends you felt you “knew” or had assumed some almost immortal status to you. Then one day, you’re told they’re gone. Wow, life really is transient.

To all these great guys who inspired and entertained me and millions of others worldwide, I say a big “thank you” for being who you were. I would miss you all.
Too bad some of the people who have been causing the world a whole load of trouble haven’t kicked the bucket yet! I’m not going to mention names, but I’m sure you’re thinking of quite a few of them right now!!