Tragedy can be a catalyst for good or bad.

You hear of tragic deaths all the time.  These tragedies spark different reactions by different people at different times.  With the aftermath of 9/11 we saw our country band together at first to show their patriotism and strength in the face of senseless death.  In the Trayvon Martin and more recent Fergueson shooting we see riots and protests over perceived racism.  After school shootings we see calls for gun control.  After a school mass knifing incident we hear nothing.

Today as a result of a slow news day I read the story of the death of a teenage Boy Scout in Pennsylvania.  Why do I find this story to be so much different than all the others?  This Boy Scout died at football practice as the result of a benign tumor in his heart that nobody knew about.  His death was truly tragic because there was no way to prevent his death.  This boy was a great kid who was working on an Eagle Scout project at a local Presbyterian Church.  Friends and family grieved this boys loss but was is incredible is what happened after the funeral was over.  70 people got together to finish the Eagle Scout project that this young man started. 

How amazing is it that one young man can affect so many people so deeply that they do good things in his name after he has died?  How many more people did this teenager affect that couldn't for whatever reason help out on finishing the project.  Such a short life had such great impact.  It has been reported that this boy will be awarded his Eagle rank posthumously.

Good things do come from the tragic loss of people.  Look at all the foundations that are named after someone who died.  Look at all the charities started by someone who lost someone to tragic circumstances.  We don't hear enough of those good stories where tragedy sparks something good.  Instead the media pays all the attention to the riots, gun control activists, and celebrity deaths.

Celebrity deaths are great news fodder.  Examples of this most recently is the suicide of Robin Williams and the death of Joan Rivers.  There was even an article claiming that Joan Rivers would be buried with something unusual.( don't know exactly what it is because I didn't read the article) Today was another celebrity suicide as well. 

So how do we make sure that there are more good things reported after tragedy than bad things.  Simply put we need to think about the person who died.  What would they think of other peoples action in their name.  Do we honor their death with our actions or do we shame them.  If that person were standing there watching what was happening in their name, would they be pleased.  Do riots and violence honor their death or just make it newsworthy.  If we stop thinking about our anger and start thinking about ways to make things better effectively then our world would be a much better place.