Ebert, writing, and joy
Feb. 19th, 2010 10:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
missroseroseI'm sure some of you have noticed by now that I'm something of a fan of Roger Ebert's. I'm apparently a bit of an odd duck as his fans go, however - I started out reading his movie reviews, and the when he started blogging more often after losing his voice to surgery, I kept reading. I never felt any need to watch his shows; the man has an amazing mind and expresses himself beautifully through his writing.
So, even though I knew he couldn't have been in the best of health, I found this Esquire article simultaneously beautiful and heartbreaking - the former because it gives such insight into what his life looks like from the outside, and the latter because it draws such a stark contrast between the strength of his mind and the frailness of his body. The description of his emergency surgery alone is drama worthy of a House episode.
But the best quote, I think, wasn't originally from the article but was one from a past blog post of Ebert's:
I believe that if, at the end of it all, 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.
Mr. Ebert, you have brought me much joy with your writing, and I know I'm not alone. And because of that, no matter how long or short a time you have left, I do believe you've accomplished your best, and I commend you for it. Salud, and thank you - may you serve as an inspiration for us all.
So, even though I knew he couldn't have been in the best of health, I found this Esquire article simultaneously beautiful and heartbreaking - the former because it gives such insight into what his life looks like from the outside, and the latter because it draws such a stark contrast between the strength of his mind and the frailness of his body. The description of his emergency surgery alone is drama worthy of a House episode.
But the best quote, I think, wasn't originally from the article but was one from a past blog post of Ebert's:
I believe that if, at the end of it all, 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.
Mr. Ebert, you have brought me much joy with your writing, and I know I'm not alone. And because of that, no matter how long or short a time you have left, I do believe you've accomplished your best, and I commend you for it. Salud, and thank you - may you serve as an inspiration for us all.
