by Doug Clore

Created on: November 24, 2009   Last Updated: November 25, 2009

"I choose not to die", said the ___________ . How shall we complete this sentence? Shall we consider this quotation to be the words of a genius, or a lunatic? Would they be more fitting coming from a devout man of God, or a fanatical cult leader? Perhaps they could be attributed to a loved one suffering from dementia.

No matter who we envision as the speaker, there is little argument that the words bear an immediate and irrefutable ring of absurdity. Everyone dies. Every person who has ever lived, with the exception of those now living, had the exact same ending to their life in this regard, they died. Not one of them was free to make the choice to do anything except die. By definition, a choice must consist of two or more options from which to select. When facing the cold hard truth of death, there is no option, no other choice. You may choose to die, or you may choose to die. Grave yards are full of remains bearing silent testimony to the undeniable fact that choosing anything besides death is simply not possible.

One of the Marion Webster Online dictionary definitons of fate is particularly instructive in this discussion. This authoritative source defines fate as " an inevitable and often adverse outcome, condition, or end... disaster; especially : death" Death is an inevitable and adverse outcome. It is a condition which cannot be avoided. All men find the same disaster waiting for them at the end of life, death. Even among those who believe in a better life in the hereafter, grief and sorrow dominate the emotions expressed by loved ones of a deceased member.

What possible options might there be to death, if we are to consider our choices and pick from among them? Life is the most obvious, and perhaps eternal sleep might be another, but neither seem to be convincing or realistic options. If mankind could choose life, wouldn't there be large numbers of men walking around celebrating their four thousandth birthdays? If sleep were an option, wouldn't there be thousands of people stockpiled in comfortable sleeping facilities, complete with nurses to turn them regularly and thereby avoid bed sores? If death were but one option of several, would not all mankind choose not to die? Would not all choose to avoid the inevitable and adverse outcome of life, the disastrous condition of death? It is clear that death is not a choice, it is the common fate of all mankind.

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