Главная страница «Первого сентября»Главная страница журнала «Английский язык»Содержание №31/2003
 
YOUTH ENGLISH SECTION

Suicide: Pro and Con

Have you ever stood at the edge of the precipice? What did you feel? You had a dilemma: to throw yourself into the precipice or to walk away.

But what can lead us to such a situation? Death of close people, loss of money. Should any of these reasons cost you your life? No, of course, not. Life is something so precious that was given to you by God and your parents. It’s disrespect to your mother to leave this life. Did she give you birth in order to lose you after 15 or 30 or even 50 years? She had been bringing you up through difficulties, tears, and sleepless nights. Every mother will tell how it’s painful when her infant is ill. She is gasping near the bedstead during days and nights. Can you imagine her state when she learns about your absurd death? It seems to her that her own life has become meaningless. I consider this treatment towards parents to be a crime!

But life is different, and you may not have any relatives. It’s a hard burden and not everybody will agree to ask for help. Your question is: “What am I living for then?” Life was given to you by God and you must bear all its trials with virtue, you must do everything to change it for the better.

I’ll tell you two different stories.

The first one took place in a village. A healthy, middle-aged man had a wife and two little children. Some time after he was dismissed from work, his wife earned very little money. They were always short of money. Half-starved children, a hard working wife, successful neighbours. The man couldn’t cope with himself. He committed suicide. His wife was very upset, she was crying over the coffin.

At first I was surprised when I heard the opinion of their neighbours. They said the man was very weak, that’s why he abandoned this world and left his family alone to suffer. Now I agree with them.

The second story is rather short. An ordinary woman lived with a husband and a one year old son. Once the boy fell seriously ill. He was twice between life and death. The doctors said that he was hopeless. But the mother didn’t give way to despair; her husband also cheered her up. Later on, the son recovered. But the woman had to retire from work and couldn’t return to it.

Now the boy has grown up and that woman is still staying at home. But she is very happy and proud of her son. That woman is my mother. If she had lost control of herself at that time and had committed suicide, there wouldn’t be my brother and me now.

I reckon if you are a strong person you would fight up to the end. It’s easy to make one step towards the precipice; it’s hard to go a long way back to a happy, successful life.

Don’t despair; always believe in your future and your strength. It’s not mere words – it is the truth!

By Julia, 10th form, Nab. Chelny