The co-founder of Apple Computers was a remarkable guy. A technological and marketing genius who reached professional and financial success the likes of which few human beings have experienced. Mr. Jobs is another famous man whose life was cut short due to cancer (of the pancreas).
I watched CNN this morning, and Mr. Jobs was the only topic of discussion. Someone e-mailed CNN claiming they were crying over his death, though the person never met him. Mr. Jobs’ death was front page news world wide.
He lead a fabulously successful company whose products changed the way many of us use computers, listen to music and talk to each other. But I really don’t think he deserves all this attention. I think all this attention shows how focused our society is on technology, business and wealth.
We’re a wired world, in part thanks to Mr. Jobs. After some stumbles, thanks to Mr. Jobs, Apple is fabulously successful. Those of us less successful professionally have a habit of putting successful businessmen on pedestals, deservedly or not. He was a billionaire many times over.
But how many lives did he save?
I imagine every day there are doctors, nurses, researchers, even paramedics who pass away, whose life work was to save lives. Do we hear about them? Do they get any attention? Is their good work worth some air time?
How many people who work or volunteer their time in war torn, disease ravaged, hunger filled, God forsaken places on this Earth, trying to help others, and after their passing, get any mention in the press (unless, of course, they were killed by local fanatics of one stripe or another)?
Where are our priorities? Why not celebrate the lives of people who really make a difference in others’ lives? I had the pleasure of being treated by six great doctors, and dozens of nurses, during my cancer journey. They’ve devoted their lives to easing the pain, extending the lives, and saving the lives, of cancer patients. Collectively, over their careers, how many lives have they touched? Thousands? Tens of thousands?
If one of those doctors or nurses was to pass away tomorrow, would I hear about it? Other than the local obits, would it make the newspaper? Would their life’s work, their achievements, the good that they did, be broadcast as an inspiration to others? If Tiger Woods were to die in a car crash tomorrow, how many people on the planet would not learn about it?
Can we question why society is so &%#*’ed up, when our focus is on the wealthy, the famous, and ultimately, the irrelevant?