Will Smith's Widow Accepted His MBA From The University Of Miami On His Behalf

Will Smith's widow, Racquel, accepted his graduate degree posthumously during @univmiami commencement ceremony today pic.twitter.com/fmNFNKtCXf

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) May 6, 2016

You know, this should have been a nice moment to memorialize Will Smith's life, accomplishments, and promising future. Unfortunately, it's impossible to look at that picture and think positively when his widow is still sitting in a wheelchair healing from the literal and metaphorical wounds of that fateful night. We could have just pretended that she was accepting the advanced degree on his behalf, but that damn chair provides such a stark reminder of such a senseless tragedy. Doesn't how matter how wide her smile is, there is an ever present sadness to this picture. Just feels like there is a bleak finality to it. Will Smith still had a lot of living left to do and that diploma represents just how productive that living surely would have been. One little fender bender, a couple of out of control tempers, and his future is now nothing more than a hypothetical to be symbolized by a single credentialed piece of paper. I want so bad to view this as a heartwarming scene, but it really just highlights the fact that the world lost more than a football player. Credit to Racquel for being able to proudly make this appearance, but calling it bittersweet surely doesn't do the polarity of the emotions she must be feeling any justice.
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