| — | Richard Dawkins in response to Ray Comfort’s failed attempt to refute Evolution |
…and other lies told to children.
(Not so much a lie as it is irrelevant. But firstly, before I offend anyone: I’m not suggesting suicide is morally or rationally correct. Just that it’s not selfish, or at least, no more selfish than anything you’ve done today. To dismiss it on that basis would be no dismissal at all.)
The suggestion that an act is automatically incorrect in any way simply because it has a selfish aspect is to outlaw love, friendship, masturbation, and even eating. We’re human: evolved through the method of natural selection, survival of the fittest, procreation. Of coure we’re selfish!
And what could possibly be more selfish than to demand that a human being with a mind of his/her own — who knew exactly his/her reasons for determing that his/her life was no longer worth living — continue to live simply because you still enjoy your life? That would be as illogical as he/she expecting you to commit suicide along with him/her.
Then there’s the argument that suicide is selfish because ”someone, somewhere is dying right now, even though he/she would rather be alive!” That doesn’t mean you should keep living. Someone, somewhere is crying alone in his/her room every time you have sex, too. Should you hop off and weep and expect him/her to somehow become aware of your selfless act and acknowledge your solidarity? Fuck, no.
Yeah, suicide might be selfish. But selfishness is precisely why you’re still alive — you were selfish enough to eat today and every single day prior. Good for you, I say! Meanwhile, suicide is a one-off, not something one does everyday. And here’s hoping you’re so selfish that you live through tomorrow as well.

Lonely in bed at night while you read? Mary Had a Little Lamp is there to help you and keep your bed warm.
Billie Holiday / I Didn’t Know What Time It Was
One of only five surviving stereo masters from her last session for Verve in 1957. Produced by Norman Granz; Harry “Sweets” Edison, trumpet; Ben Webster, tenor sax; Jimmy Rowles, piano.







