I wouldn’t die for you
Well, it’s been all over the news. If you’ve been living under a rock for the past week, you should be informed that there was a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Sichuan province of China. It’s already killed about 20,000 people, and there are even more people still trapped in remote places of the province! My mom told me a story of a little boy who was three, and his parents pressed themselves upon him so he could live. They were trapped inside a building, and they had to wait for help to arrive. When the aid workers pulled the boy out of the rubble, they asked him where his parents were.
“They died so I could live.”
This made me wonder… how many people would die for you (or have you die for them)? I would die for about… two people — my parents. I don’t believe that my friends and I are mature enough to say that we would die for each other, because that wouldn’t be truthful. Maybe someday along the road, I will find friends that I can honestly say that I would die for, but that hasn’t happened yet.
A life is not to be given lightly. There are some amiable people that would die for a random person on the street if there was an exchange of bullets going on, but I am not one of them. I would not give my life to a random stranger because I don’t think they deserve it. Why should I give the thing that I have worked so hard for, to someone that I don’t even know? Everyone has this idea of becoming a martyr and living on the memories of everyone, but when you’re dead, who will remember you? Sure, you’ll be remembered and loved by millions for a few years, but what happens after that? What happens when you fade away from peoples’ memory? You’ll become nothing but a rotting corpse into the ground.
When I asked my mom if she would die for me, she responded instantly with a “Yes” with no hesitation.
“You don’t even need to ask! I’m your mother, of course I would die for you. I gave birth to you, and I put in so much hard work in making you a good person, and if you died and I lived, all my hard work would have gone to waste. I have nothing substantial to give to this world, but you and your brother are still young! You guys can still make a difference in the world!”
Needless to say, after my mom’s speech, I gave my mom a hug. Then, I had to go to the dentist’s office to get my teeth cleaned, but that’s another post for another day.
So, how many people would you die for? How many people do you think would die for you?
By morgan · # · on May 15th, 2008
I’m not sure. I don’t think I would die for anyone, except perhaps my mother, my father and my brother. Maybe my parents would die for me, I’m not exactly sure. My mum regards the subject of death as a taboo.
As self-righteous and arrogant as we teenagers may be, I do not believe we’re mature enough to have that side of us brought out. Not even some adults are willing to make the decision. People in their teens say to each other, “I would die for you,” but I don’t think they would. It’s easier said than done. Words are thrown around too easily, now.
All in all, I completely agree with you.
By Crystal · # · on May 15th, 2008
Oh my gosh I read that story about the 3-year-old boy as well! Apparently he was found UNDER his parents body, so they probably died for him. So so sad.
You know… sometimes school shootings make you wonder what will happen if it occurred at your school. Which teacher would be brave enough to take charge? Whose macho act would fall apart? Personally, if my life could save the lives of my entire class, I would give it up. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE life, but I wouldn’t hesitate to place my parents’ or a group of other people I know and care about above my own.
By Maggie · # · on May 15th, 2008
Hmmm… this really made me think but I think I would really only die for my mum.
I say this because my dad passed awya (I guess I couldn’t have really said without saying that..) but yes, he did and my mum did so much for us. She made sure we had almost everything we wanted sacrificing sleep among other things for my siblings and I.
It is really sad that this happened!
Really makes you think.
By Alex · # · on May 15th, 2008
I would die for my mom, dad, brother, and my grandparents.
I don’t think I’d die for my friends because like you said, we aren’t mature enough to say that yet.
I remember a story in the news a while back, about a lockdown at a school, and the teacher fought off the madman.
Good topic. =)
By Drawde · # · on May 15th, 2008
I guess you aren’t going for the US Army, I suppose.
First of all, I’m going to be really impersonal and say that I think you mean amicable, not amiable.
Those who die for random strangers are surprisingly common, as stated on my .. opening sentence. What’s the war toll for the Iraq war? 4000? People that risk their lives for the country, and essentially random.. ’strangers’. Would you risk your life to save the lives of many others?
Yea. I don’t know how to conclude this blog comment, because my ice cream is melting and I need to drink it before it gets warm.
By Alex · # · on May 15th, 2008
^ I meant amiable.
By Juan · # · on May 15th, 2008
How deep.
You know I thikn everyone daydreams about being some sort hero who’ll take the pain as a sacrifice. Of course, most of this is fantasy…
I won’t go so far as to say that there is no one like that, but there are some people like that. You won’t know them until… you see them in action.
But as to me… I truly hope that I will have the bravery to die for someone. Doubt it.
If there were a person I cared about enough I would. (I hope you know me well enough to guess what I’m thinking) My parents qualify, but like you said they’d probably get mad at me for doing so. So until then, I prefer living my life as a coward.
By Regina · # · on May 18th, 2008
I would die for my parents, and that’s pretty much it. I’m in the same position as you, if I find friends that are very close and are like my family, then yes, but as of now, I wouldn’t die for any of them.
By Regine · # · on May 29th, 2008
Well, this was a difficult question, but I’d die for my mom, grandma and brother and for my husband. I don’t know if my husband would die for me, but I’d rather he wouldn’t. I’d rather die so he could live, and that’s actually selfish, cause if I die, I don’t have to go through the devastation his death would be to me.
I’m sure my mom and my brother would die for me too, as I’d do for them. The only thing is how sad they’d be if I died. This is a bit disturbing. This is way we have to cherish every moment given to us, and be in peace with our loved ones. There’s no gain into being mad at them or fighting with them. Enjoy the moment!