In the past couple of weeks, society has seen tragedies, controversies and heartbreak. Unfortunately, this is nothing new. We live in a world of violence. From time to time, we escape the sadness through books, movies, music and other media. However, in the past few days, the creators of these escapes have interrupted our ability to forget by thrusting themselves into the discussion, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

When the news broke about the death of Cecil the Lion, plenty of celebrities shared their disgust. The most powerful reaction of all however came from comedian Jimmy Kimmel on on his show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" It power goes beyond the words spoken. The fact that someone who is know for filling us with laughter is able and willing to interrupt their own schedule to plead with society shows that celebrities are no longer hiding their thoughts and emotions with their fans.

Another name in the headlines for more than their professional work is Amy Schumer. Schumer's directorial debut film "Trainwreck" was thrust into tragedy when a gunman open fired at showing of her film in Lafayette, Louisiana on July 23, 2015. Schumer expressed her heartbreak over Twitter, but her actions didn't stop there. Schumer teamed up with her cousin, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to urge states to have stricter restrictions when it comes to a citizen's access to firearms. Amy Schumer's words, like Jimmy Kimmel's, were beyond politics, it was raw emotion — something that is not common among the rich and famous.

Sadly, tragedies will probably continue, but hopefully celebrity will continue to use their platforms and power to make positive changes in our world. The world will not change overnight, and celebrities can only do so much, but every step we take as society today ensures more lives are saved tomorrow.