(no subject)
I just read a friend’s post where he discussed the “Terri Schiavo” situation and how she shouldn’t be living through life-powering machines that keep her breathing in her vegetative and unconscious state for the past 15 years.
He believes that some people don’t understand life and, by consequence, don’t respect it. We live in the “ignorance is bliss” state of mind and that people who do stupid things in their lives (such as coke addicts, smokers, drunk drivers are his examples) are misusing their short time. He goes on and on about regretting things, second chances, lamenting choices… and then goes on to say: Live life as if every day is your last. I found him to be quite hypocritical when he made that statement.
People do brainless things in their lives, make mistakes, love the wrong people, choose the wrong friends, tell unnecessary lies, lose their virginity at a dumb time, and get drunk at a family reunion… and on and on. That’s what makes our lives so incredible and worth living. The fact that we are not perfect in any way is what makes us so characteristically and undoubtedly human. It’s the, with no other words for it, stupid and ridiculous decisions we make in our lifetime that we look back on and make us smile on our deathbed. If we had always chosen the safe road, what is there worth remembering?
Of course there are people who go too far; serial killers, racists, homophobes, and republicans (ok, I haaaad to put that in) are of no use to society except to make us value our own lives all the more, especially when we watch Jerry Springer. Where these people misuse the idea of existence is that they attempt to take away our ability to choose how we live and therefore stealing our very essence of living. But that just furthers my argument to a social level rather than just a personal one. If society was a harmonious balance, I feel like our good traits could disappear at some point. Ex: You wouldn’t need to feel charitable because nobody needs anything from you. However, that’s not my argument today and some may say that I’m deviating from my traditional socialist ideology, but please keep it straight that I’m a “utopian” communist ;) and am discussing present day and not a possible future.
So yes, I believe that we are destined to be a stupid race (and how we became superior on Earth confounds me because, honestly, I think squirrels are far more intelligent) and by trying to achieve perfection we deny our very humanity on the most basic of levels: we learn through mistakes, we are not prodigies when it comes to living. Besides, we all die; even nuns and priests who have, by some opinions, lived pure and enlightened lives. We all die inevitably and regardless of how we have lived and one could say that dieing is a disgrace to living. You might as well enjoy the time you have - I do not consider this to be misusing life. I feel that you misuse life when you are too afraid to live it.
I don’t know about you guys, but I would much rather be laughing on my deathbed about the time when I got trashed, fell off my moped, and sprained my neck, because at least it’ll make me smile.
You may call it lack of respect for life, sir, but I call it living.
He believes that some people don’t understand life and, by consequence, don’t respect it. We live in the “ignorance is bliss” state of mind and that people who do stupid things in their lives (such as coke addicts, smokers, drunk drivers are his examples) are misusing their short time. He goes on and on about regretting things, second chances, lamenting choices… and then goes on to say: Live life as if every day is your last. I found him to be quite hypocritical when he made that statement.
People do brainless things in their lives, make mistakes, love the wrong people, choose the wrong friends, tell unnecessary lies, lose their virginity at a dumb time, and get drunk at a family reunion… and on and on. That’s what makes our lives so incredible and worth living. The fact that we are not perfect in any way is what makes us so characteristically and undoubtedly human. It’s the, with no other words for it, stupid and ridiculous decisions we make in our lifetime that we look back on and make us smile on our deathbed. If we had always chosen the safe road, what is there worth remembering?
Of course there are people who go too far; serial killers, racists, homophobes, and republicans (ok, I haaaad to put that in) are of no use to society except to make us value our own lives all the more, especially when we watch Jerry Springer. Where these people misuse the idea of existence is that they attempt to take away our ability to choose how we live and therefore stealing our very essence of living. But that just furthers my argument to a social level rather than just a personal one. If society was a harmonious balance, I feel like our good traits could disappear at some point. Ex: You wouldn’t need to feel charitable because nobody needs anything from you. However, that’s not my argument today and some may say that I’m deviating from my traditional socialist ideology, but please keep it straight that I’m a “utopian” communist ;) and am discussing present day and not a possible future.
So yes, I believe that we are destined to be a stupid race (and how we became superior on Earth confounds me because, honestly, I think squirrels are far more intelligent) and by trying to achieve perfection we deny our very humanity on the most basic of levels: we learn through mistakes, we are not prodigies when it comes to living. Besides, we all die; even nuns and priests who have, by some opinions, lived pure and enlightened lives. We all die inevitably and regardless of how we have lived and one could say that dieing is a disgrace to living. You might as well enjoy the time you have - I do not consider this to be misusing life. I feel that you misuse life when you are too afraid to live it.
I don’t know about you guys, but I would much rather be laughing on my deathbed about the time when I got trashed, fell off my moped, and sprained my neck, because at least it’ll make me smile.
You may call it lack of respect for life, sir, but I call it living.