A Letter to a Friend Concerning Death,
By SaiyanCrane
To begin, I think you made the best choice concerning Voodoo, now especially because malice had, in fact, been the intention. I know very well that there are often times, in great remorse, that we may tend to act wickedly against another person in the vitriolic name of revenge. It is understandable, and in certain circumstances I find that it is pardonable. However, should we find ourselves succumbing to such notions, than we have truly been defeated. The same, I think, applies to suicide-- utter defeat because someone else hurt you. I think we should always choose the higher path, although fraught with traps, and snares, and reasons to turn back. In the end, I mostly pity the people who have hurt me. There life is a far sadder one than my own. To withold enacting a justified vengeance, in the name of peace-- to pardon your executioner, so to speak, is one of the hardest, and hence more virtuous, thing that a human being can accomplish.
I try, I suppose, to do this all of the time; but we both know that human folly cannot, at times, be controlled and we oft err in the name of indulgence. I feel like I have a good moral guide though, and despite the amount of times I have strayed from the path, I at least know how to return to it. I don't know if that makes me a better person because I know what I should do, or if it makes me a worse person because I immorally defy it? I suppose that is a good contrast for any person. Are we good or are we evil? It is the great Rousseau Vs. Locke debate. We shall, however, save that for another time since I have yet to even address to conversation that we have been having.
Regarding death and science, I believe that you have accurate points. We have almost crossed into a post-modern discussion, however, about the truth of science and what "truth" is. I will entertain "death" then , from an empirical standpoint, as you have already. In keeping with the Law of Conservation of Matter, again as you have suggested, then it seems like death is only ceasing to exist consciously. Our bodies die and get used by the Earth. Indeed, our bodies are dying currently, constantly regenerating skin, bone, blood cells, hair, and even nails. We are merely a collection of living and dying organisms. In a macro sense, the world and universe, is also just comprised of living and dying organisms. So then, is death the death of the individual, or is it the ultimate death of all things, together, ceasing to regenerate entirely? The answer, is obviously, personal to everyone. People might say, "Death is when 'I' go," but never say "Death is when we all go." That is the real death. Although, ironically, that viewpoint I think has positive implications. If death is something that we will all face together, ultimately, even as atoms and energy, then Life is something that we should also face together.
Here is an example that I was thinking about while walking around my neighborhood in Chicago. Why do people congregate in lament and divide in celebration? I was thinking about people I disliked because, in times of feeling good, I felt like I did not need them, or even worse, that we were rivals, constantly in competition. I think about girls I left in college, on bad terms, and how much I missed talking to them when I realized that I missed their opinions and there knowledge. Only in depressed times, however, did I go and seek out those voices that I had stubbornly or scathingly silenced. I think we all feel naked and alone. In times of prosperity, it is easy to feel safe and warm. There are so many illusory safeguards that it seems impossible that we may ever slip back into that abysmall darkness once more. Look at the state of our Nation right now, it is not any wonder that the country is doing what, we as humans, do all the time. All of a sudden, we are back in the shadows and need other people. We cannot face such darkness by ourselves, not yet anyway. This is another reason I do not support revenge. Who knows who we may need or may need us one day? I'd rather keep such lines open. Good only begets more good.
Another important aspect of darkness, which I now realize is a completely different conversation; but one which supports my central mantra that balance is the key to understanding. This means that equal attention must be given to darkness, as is given to light. Equal attention must be paid to death as it is to life. I think too many people are lost in loving death, or loving darkness, that they fall prey to it. I think one must love the light in order to survive the study of more macabre subjects. As long as hope and love are not lost, then it is safe to rummage through the dark attic, even alone for a while. Darkness, though, just like light is a living and breathing thing and it is carnivorous. Not enough people are prepared to battle the darkness in order to understand it. They are simply consumed by it, and rarely, come to find anymore light in their lives. The samurai had a saying, "Death must never be dwelled upon, but must be realized often." Otherwise, death will take you. It is, indeed, the blackest of all tides.
IS death life? Is life death? I think the answer is somtimes for both questions, as it should be. It is merely balance. It is as easy as Winter and Summer, Night and Day, or even Event Horizons.