A reader seconds Matt’s positive comments about the late NBC newscaster Tim Russert and adds that Russert’s death should be a wakeup call to all of us to live well and love those around us.

Matt responds:

I absolutely believe that we never die as long as our good work, thoughts, and deeds are remembered by others.  So what we do really does count positively or negatively within whatever world we exist in.  Some people marginalize themselves and don’t think that they really mean much, but I don’t think there’s any person—or even, to get sort of goofy, any insect or mammal or other living creature—that doesn’t make some kind of impact.  I find anymore that I open the window to let the fly outside rather than swatting it.  I find a butterfly in my house and put a glass over it and take it outside and liberate it.

So when we talked about Tim Russert, we talked about a man who influenced those around him but also people he never had interactions with.  His words and innate philosophy permeated the scene and will continue to as long as any of us are around to remember. I think that goes for all of us.  At our funeral, I think it would be good if people would say, “He or she will be mightily missed,” instead of “Thank God the old bastard’s gone!”

So if that sort of thought process can drive us to a better world, so be it.

Matt