What could possibly be more important topics than life and death?  (That's a rhetorical question, no need to answer it.)  Following are some thoughts on life and death, tilted towards how Americans think about them.

Pro-Choice

"Pro-Choice" is the most misleading label I've ever seen a group of people attach to themselves.  It implies a belief in some kind of universal freedom.  The freedom of choice, in a general sense.  In actuality it refers to something very specific: abortion.  A woman's "right" to choose the termination of the baby developing in her womb.  I wonder why they shy away from the word "abortion?"  That's what they really are, aren't they?  Pro-abortion?

After all, they're not referring to my "choice" to keep automatic weapons in my house.  On the contrary, they would be the first to legislate that I CAN'T have automatic weapons.  So what "choice" are they talking about?  The choice to smoke crack in my backyard?  The choice to get drunk and then drive home?  Nope, they'd be against those too.  They're all choices, but they don't support people's right to choose in those instances.  So what's the deal?  The only choice they are interested in protecting is the choice to kill unborn humans.  Oops ... I mean get an abortion.  Stop pussyfooting around the issue and call yourselves Pro-Abortion, because you are certainly not Pro-Choice.

And for fuck's sake, stop calling it a woman's "right" to have an abortion.  It is not a "right" by any definition.  It is a medical procedure made possible through advancements in technology that make it safe(r) for the mother.  It's an elective surgery ... you know, like breast augmentation.  It is not a right, it is an option.

Curious how they tend to downplay abortion, as if terminating a fetus is not the killing of a person.  If you're okay with it, then fine.  Just don't dress it up and try to pretend a developing fetus is anything other than a future human being.

Death Penalty

On the other end of the spectrum we have psycho liberals who argue against the death penalty.  Usually the same psycho liberals whom are pro-abortion.  Hypocrisy alert!  Killing innocent unborn children is okay, but killing adults who earned death through their behavior is not?

And what is their suggestion as an alternative to death?  Lifetime solitary confinement.  What's the fucking difference?  Do you really think it's more humane to lock somebody away with no human contact and no sunshine than to kill him?  I don't.  I think people against the death penalty are afraid of death.  Don't be afraid, it's natural.  It's part of nature.  Some folks who commit the worst crimes need to have nature accelerated for them, that's all.

I've also heard the argument that sometimes a criminal scheduled to be executed is not the "same person" he was when he committed the crime.  Meaning: that person would not commit the same crime today.  My response is usually, "yeah, so?"  That makes no difference.  The crime was still committed, and the punishment still needs to be doled out.  That's like a parent thinking they don't need to discipline their child because he will grow out of whatever phase he's in.  It's wrong-headed thinking.  And if our legal system wasn't so damn convoluted with its endless appeals these people could get executed a lot sooner.  Of course they're not the same people at 60 years-old after sitting in prison for 40 years while their lawyers get rich by abusing the system.

But here's the deal with the death penalty .. we can't get it wrong.  We can't execute people who don't deserve it.  Read that again, because it does not translate into "we can't execute people".  The people who deserve it, deserve it.  Kill 'em.  But damn it, make sure you got the right guy!

The meaning of life

I have the answer.  It's not sexy, but it's the truth.  The purpose of life is to propagate life.  There it is.  That's what we're here to do.  Our job is to ensure the continuation of life.  I know it's a chicken and egg situation ... but that's the ... wait!  Holy shit!  Which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Finally the first perfectly applicable topic for using that analogy!  (The egg came first, by the way.)

That is life.  Propagate life, then die.  Everything in between is just an effort to improve the quality of life for yourself and for future life ... while you're still alive.