Why I Hope To Die At 75

Why I Hope To Die At 75 When Ezekiel J. Emanuel told his friends and brothers his preference of dying at 75, they all thought he was crazy. Life is so fragile, as there is so much to see and do in the world. There are myriads out there who out lied the age of 75 and are doing fine. Emanuel hopes to die at 75 with the satisfaction of living a complete life, pursued lifes projects, and seeing his children as well as grandchildren grow. Although evolution plays a role in how long you live, he plans to live life while still in his prime. Emanuel states 2 different points, “Living too long/death is a loss.”(75). Death can contribute the way others remember you and the impact you made on their lives. Death can deprive you from the people you love and time spent. Living too long on the other hand, leaves a negative impact as well because there are terminally ill individuals out there who need the good, compassionate death so they would no longer suffer being alive and having the illness drag them down. Therefore, living in that condition seems far worse than death. Emanuel also states, “I am not advocating 75 as the official statistic of a complete, good life in order to save resources, ration health care, or address public policy issues arising from the increases in life expectancy.” (81). He wants individuals to reach out for the health care opportunities as much as they can so they won’t suffer. Evolution also enables us to live even longer. He questions, “Is making money, chasing the dream, all worth it?” Emanuel advocates living a complete life and gaining satisfaction. Emanuel currently wants to spend his time enjoying himself while he’s still healthy.

Although family members urge him that he’s wrong to die at 75, he’s not convinced that he’s wrong and in his condition can survive past 75 years old. A new obsession called “The American Immortal” debuted which is how Americans believe that they can live for a long period of time by in taking supplements, such as: protein, vitamins, and juices in an attempt to “cheat death and prolong health and long as possible,” hence immortal. Emanuel is not pleased with the culture, because it seems that it’s almost a religion for them to live as long as possible. The American Immortals may surpass their parents in terms of life, but are more likely to be disabled. However, the “compression of morbidity” states that we want to believe “that we will live longer lives and then abruptly die with hardly any aches, pains, or physical deterioration.” This theory proposes that if we expand lifespans to the 80’s and 90’s we will live normal, healthy lives. The American Immortals are convinced the compression of morbidity offers them a “fountain of youth” until their time of death. The life expectancy in seniors today as opposed to their counterparts 50 years ago is more active because health care hasn’t altered aging process as it did the dying process. As a result, seniors pass on from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Therefore, the children of these individuals want to live by the standards of the American Immortal, so they won’t endure the same fate as their parents and grandparents. Emanuel questions, “Isn’t there more to life than being totally physically fit and continuing to add to one’s creative legacy?” Mentorship plays a role because it transmits the wisdom of our grandparents to children that we should “accommodate our physical and mental

limitations”. (78). Surprisingly, the American Immortal is happy to improve and support interests such as: bird watching and bicycle riding. Mentorship is important because it helps you maintain a peace and balance with your career and family. Having a relationship with family is important because you learn to enjoy the joys of one another before the passing of the older generation. While in an old age, it’s important to be remembered while you are in your prime: active, loving, vigorous, and loving. Death and dying are an inevitable part of human life. Some people know way ahead of time when their death will occur, and some are simply afraid of death. For Ezekiel J. Emanuel on the other hand, hopes that he will pass on at the age of 75. He states that he has lived a complete, stress-free life and achieved self-fulfillment. In my opinion, Emanuel’s wish of dying at 75 years old is not only honorable, but rather selfish and should consider extending his life span. Emanuel’s stand on dying at 75 seems selfish due to the fact that you have your whole life ahead of you. Just let evolution run its course and let mortality happen naturally. You should take advantage of what your physical limitations enable you to do and make most of it before your passing. However, he is quite honorable on suggesting that people who are suffering from any kind of disease, depression, etc. a “good, compassionate, death” so that they will no longer suffer. He is also against the American Immortal by explaining that “juicing” is not quite healthy for the human body and will prolong life and cheat death. By having good health care and living a healthy lifestyle, you should be on the road to healthy, happy, life with no chronic illnesses. Emanuel should reconsider and choose to live a longer life so he can make the most of it. 5 years

ago, my mother was diagnosed with arthritis and constantly endures pain. I couldn’t imagine the pain she goes through as it seems worse than death. Yet, she lives a satisfactory life and plans to live life naturally with no choice of dying at 75. People shouldn’t abide by Emanuel’s point of view because it will create sort of a “domino effect” that will brainwash people into thinking that their life is complete and therefore, ending their own life. Death certainly has the advantage over you as it draws you away from the people you love resulting in a loss as well as draw you away from the opportunities you have in life.