I poked my head up a few minutes ago from an afternoon of intense writing, logged into Facebook and discovered that one of basketball’s biggest icons had died today, well before his time.

One of my friends had posted an image of Kobe Bryant and the words “rest in peace” with the years 1978 to 2020. My first impulse was that this friend was the victim of a prank, so I Googled his name, and sure enough, he died in a helicopter crash with his daughter. I returned to Facebook, scrolled down and saw friend after friend posting condolences to what many consider a legend.

I probably should have felt horrible that such tragedy happened to someone who died younger than I am. On some level, I probably do, but those mournful feelings went just beyond one man. I couldn’t help but think that there are plenty of people out there dying every day, yet I don’t see Facebook blowing up about their deaths. I don’t see their deaths making national and, most likely, world news.

To me, that’s a problem. I consider Kobe Bryant’s life to have as much value as anyone else who walks this world. They might not have the athletic skill that he did. They most likely didn’t have the same breaks in life that he did. Still, there are plenty of other people in the world whose last day was today. Where are our tears at their passing? Where are our minds in reflecting about their lives?

I had a friend who lost her son a few years ago, a bright, young boy. She had plenty of friends who were offering condolences and support to her in her time of need, but we didn’t see television news segments about the fact that he died, and aside from an obituary, there wasn’t any story in the press that he passed. Does his life have less value than Kobe Bryant’s?

A former roommate of mine passed away a few years back. He was prone to seizures, a rather scary experience for anyone who ever saw them up close and in person. I found out about it from a friend’s Facebook post, but that wasn’t followed up by dozens of other friends in countless other states expressing remorse over his loss. Did his life not matter like Kobe Bryant’s?

My eldest niece’s father died before his time. Having difficulties with drugs and alcohol, it was an overdose that ended his life. Dying from an overdose is just as horrible as dying from a helicopter crash, but the number of people agonizing over that death will still pale in comparison to the number of people shedding tears and peppering crying emojis on social media. Does that seem fair?

On New Year’s Eve 2017, I lost my stepfather. He was bringing in a load of firewood when his heart just seemed to stop. For me, the significance of the holiday changed forever, but that’s not the case for the rest of the world; they still party as the clock ticks down to midnight. However, it’s a sure bet that Jan. 26 in future years will be marked by remembrances for Kobe Bryant and his accomplishments. Not so for most other people. Doesn’t that seem a little askew?

Those are just four examples that I personally know about. What about all the other people who die in accidents, are murdered, take their own lives, have strange syndromes that cut their lives short or even those who have led long and blessed lives and just passed away in their sleep? Why are their lives just a footnote while Kobe Bryant is causing most of America to pause and realize the value of life?

Take our soldiers who go off to fight in foreign lands and never return. They’ll get a mention at local Memorial Day celebrations, but who is going to care one way or the other just a few hundred miles away? We’ve lost thousands since we’ve gone to fight in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and now Iran, but now their names aren’t even mentioned on the news, just that we lost four to a suicide bomber or three from a roadside explosion.

Then there are people who are not in uniform. Some people are living on the streets, trying to find a way to survive. When they die, will we even know their names, who they were or what led them to this end? Not likely, and that seems to be an even sadder reality than the fact that Kobe Bryant is dead.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t be sad that Kobe is dead, and people are undoubtedly going to mourn his loss. What I am saying is that he’s not the only one going to meet his maker, and maybe we should put some of that energy into the others who have died today. All lives have value, not just those who are celebrities.