Life is the most precious thing of all

Treasure isn’t just gold. Treasures can possibly be the smallest thing that separates you from the ordinary. Whether you have the opportunity to work and support yourself, or you get the chance to go to Disneyland, treasures make each individual special. Now, most people see treasures as possessions, items bought at the mall or received for a birthday. But, the most important and possibly overlooked treasure ever given, is the gift of life. No matter how much money one has, where they live, what their last name is, the most important gift ever received is life. As Thomas Jefferson said, “All men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Every person on earth is given a right to life, but do these same people have the right to take this most valuable treasure away from themselves?

Many of the people granted the opportunity sometimes take away their life. In the state of Oregon, a law called Death with Dignity Act, gives terminally ill people the option to take their own life.

Once diagnosed with six months left to live, terminally ill people can receive drugs from a physician to take their life in their own hands. One of the most controversial points of The Death with Dignity Act is that people can receive drugs without the consent of a family member or a psychiatrist. This means they could end their life without anyone knowing it.

Many people disapprove of this, as they believe the terminally ill should value their last few months of life. When someone encounters pain and adversity, is it acceptable for them to quit? What should people with disabilities be told, people in wheelchairs, with brain damage? Should they be told to give up because life’s going to be hard? Not many people have an easy life; many face times where life seems pointless and their situation seems impossible. This shouldn’t mean that they should throw in the towel.

Because someone’s time is limited doesn’t mean they shouldn’t value those last few months, weeks, days, even minutes. Everyone dies at some point and no one knows when. For some people, it will be in 6 months. And if they were told that, they would make the most of every day. Each day can be influential to someone, as they can make an impact with others every day. But some people would rather die “comfortably.” Often, terminally ill people get depressed and try to commit suicide for no good reason. If anyone is told that they are to die in six months, they’re not going to be enthusiastic about it, but they should still treasure the time given to them.

As long as history has been recorded, people have valued their lives greatly. They have fought for their lives, moved for a better life, and even sacrificed their lives for the lives of others. Now, in present day America, people would rather have no life than a tough life. Are these the values being instilled in our society, that no life is better than a life with adversity? That it is okay to throw away time so they can die in their own comfort?

If America believes that people would be better off dead than going through a rough final six months, then America’s values have diminished. Terminally sick people have a chance to leave a lasting legacy, to change someone’s life, and that can go a long way. But some people would rather choose to die in their own haven, to pass and never to see their family’s face, or never see the light of day again. People are only given one life on this planet, and they should make the most of every last day.

Paul Brennan

Kent

(Editor’s note: Paul Brennan is a student at Kentwood High School, and this letter is an essay he wrote for class, regarding his feelings about Initiative 1000.)