the goal shouldn’t be to avoid death but to live our old age in adequately healthy and strong bodies (proportional to age and our daily routines) and a sharp mind still capable of following complex arguments. i doubt the strategy for this involves all this sacrifice and masochism. but fear of death is such an overriding fear. it commits us into slavery and makes us do crazy things with sufficient justification. life’s for living not longevity. so live! tecumseh’s poem comes to mind:<p><pre><code> So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and bow to none. When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and nothing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.</code></pre>