Don't Speak For Those Who Can Speak For Themselves
Sad to say, but there exist any number of people willing to stand up and tell us how wonderful and necessary suffering and death by aging are to the world. They're all full of it, terrified of change or living - and how dare they stand up and speak for those who are aged now. Read this blog entry by a 93-year old, and consider what the Kasses and Fukuyamas of the world would like to do to all of us - condemn us all to age, suffer and die to their schedule, rather than the years we strive to make for ourselves. "At this age, I must say that I do delight in people's amazement when I tell them how old I am. But under all this is the knowledge that I am the oldest male on either side of my family, maternal or paternal, and I know I must go fairly soon. I just don't like the idea. ... There are many reasons. For too long I have behaved as if I could postpone going indefinitely, and thus have so many things that I must do first. I don't want my successors to find out how much I could have done that isn't done, not by a long shot. There are numerous notes and letters I must write. There are places I've wanted to travel, but never had the chance. Actually, each of you can, if you think yourself into my age, fill out the list. At least you can try to understand why I say that I hate to go." We strive for a world in which no-one has to experience this - in which there is no daily toll, no 100,000 deaths by each new sunset.
Link: http://dontoearth.blogspot.com/2007/01/it-bothers-me-that-i-have-to-go.html