More Bad News

Following on from the news that Iain Banks is not long for this world, comes the news that Roger Ebert has now departed it.

I admit that I was only an occasional reader of Ebert’s film reviews, but I always found them worthwhile and thought-provoking. I refer you to The Mumpsimus for a deeper appreciation of Ebert and his writing. From that piece is a quote from Ebert himself. It’s probably Ebert’s best memorial and something to live up to:

“‘Kindness’ covers all of my political beliefs,” he wrote, at the end of his memoirs. “No need to spell them out. I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances. We must try. I didn’t always know this and am happy I lived long enough to find it out.”

Amen.