Echizen Washi

I felt uncomfortable to find the following sentences in an English textbook for the third grade students in junior high schools, which stated being used from this year.

It was a story about Jackie Robinson who was the first player in the Major Leagues as a black person. In the end of the story it goes, ` He died in 1972. His life really had a strong impact on many people. The value of a life is measured by its impact on other people. That is the message that he left for us. `

I should teach some students how to use ` who ` and ` that` to connect meanings as an English grammar here, but I had something to tell my students more than that; I don't agree with the idea.

Do we have to have a big impact on people so that our own life become more valuable ? Is it the purpose for living ?

I don't think so. I remember one of my friends who worked for the Japanese central government in Tokyo once told me that they were the people who were supporting our society.  Then what about me working in a local countryside as a paper maker ? Is my life less or no valuable comparing to him? Do people live to be famous ? Do people take an action to make their life valuable ?