Waxing philosophical

It think that in our society today there is a refusal to accept the transience and natural progression of human life. This refusal is evident in the Schindlers' inability to accept the death of their daughter, which in my un-medical opinion happened back in 1990 when her consciousness shut down. It is also evident in the culture of eternal youth and life. The wrinkles and grey hair that once signified age and wisdom are blasted out of existence with Botox and dye. People's lives are extended through extraordinary means, and any suggestion that it might be better to end life rather than live, artificially, in pain is met with criticism--even when that suggestion comes from the suffering people themselves.

People today seem incredibly reluctant to age at all, incredibly reluctant to admit that there is a natural course of human life which can only culminate in death. What they don't understand is that life is precious precisely because it is ephemeral and because it comes in stages. There is something beautiful about the way a healthy human society fits together--small children, just discovering the world; young people; older people, who have the knowledge and experience to guide their families through the often rocky path of life. Most of us will occupy each of these different roles, in their time, during our lives.

We're all going to die sooner or later--what better motivation to get off of our asses and do spectacular things?