by D. Kearney Sparano

Created on: March 23, 2009

Our social views on suicide stem from our puritanical Christian heritage, as do most things in America. Subsequently we look on suicide as a cowardly act. We tend to demonize it. Suicide deaths are not allowed to be buried on consecrated ground. They are deemed sinful. However I find it hard to join the societal opinion that they are wrong, I also cannot say they are right. Does there have to be a moral judgment on the matter?

We as a society are conflicted on it. If a perfectly healthy individual who lost his job jumps off a bridge, we say it is tragic and awful. Although, if someone with terminal cancer decides to end their suffering it may perhaps be deemed tragic but not necessarily awful. Further still if someone's knowingly and willingly sacrifices there life in the service of another; say a soldier jumping on a grenade it is often deemed heroic. All three of these acts consist of someone making a decision to die; the only difference is intent and context.

The bridge jumper is focused solely on him/herself. The have chosen to give up on life, despite the fact that things could get better. Since the choice is completely self centered society decides it I wrong. The terminal cancer patient is also making a selfish choice. Yet the gravity of the selfishness is less. This person is in pain, life is not going to get better, in fact it will only get worse and end sooner rather then later anyway, so social sympathy and understanding allows for more acceptance of this decision. Finally there is the soldier. That act is completely selfless. He or she died to save a life and in the service of something greater then themselves. It is an act that we actually admire since everyone wishes to be the hero of their own story.

Heroic self sacrifice is admired in many cultures. Despite what we may think or feel about them the suicide bomber is believed heroic in their culture because they are dying for a greater purpose. I remember watching Syriana starring George Clooney, part of the film chronicles a suicide bomber's life up to the amount of his sacrifice. By the time he completes his mission, I felt sympathy for the character and his decision. The same could be said of the Samurai tradition of Seppuku. The idea is dying for the sake of regaining honor. In this context could you say the suicide was wrong? From their societal perspective, no.

Suicide as with all things in the world doesn't fall into a neat little package. It is complex and due to that complexity a simple judgment of right and wrong is inadequate. The question isn't "Is committing suicide wrong?" The question is, why? Why did this person give up on their life? As the saying goes, "Walk a mile in another man's shoes"

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