Short Stories

Would living forever without the prospect of falling ill or growing older be a wonderful thing? The notion of living forever has over the years become the focus of many. Early Crusaders of the Holy Roman Empire spent their lives journeying for the Holy Grail, an ancient cup fabled to bring immortality to its drinker. Men of Modern day likewise reach out to Science for answers to the aging problem. Though, is this search for an answer to eternal life really worth it when you closely observe the world and its deteriorating condition? Disputes and inflamed

disagreements break countries apart taking the lives of many with them. Would you really want to live forever in a world this unstable? Then again those who manage to find something of value in their lifetime may see the thought of living forever as another opportunity, another journey. Living forever may indeed be a wonderful thing.

Is the search for eternal life worthwhile when we see the condition of the world we live in today? Daily we are confronted, both in newspapers and on TV with accounts of violence and increased conflict between countries from all across the globe. Most developed and developing countries are no longer safe as a result of civil war or international feuds. It may be said that New Zealand, a "developed country", is relatively safe with no threat of war. Even so, we need but look at the prevalence of crime and social strife within our own communities. Grievous and fatal assault charges within the Auckland city district totaled 334 cases by the year ending 31 December 2006. If this was not tragic enough, over 1,468 counts of intimidating and threatening behavior were recorded along with 1,319 cases of serious offence to the general public. Auckland is a heavily populated city within New Zealand. Some of the many New Zealander's that walk the streets of central Auckland everyday, whether they are unconscious or completely ignorant, risk their lives due to the unstable society around them. We no longer live in a world that is safe for us or future generations. Maybe it would not be such a wonderful thing to live forever when our safety and the safety of others is forever compromised.

On the other hand however many who find something of special value in their lifetime may see the thought of living forever as a wonderful opportunity in which they can both learn and achieve new things. In today's fast paced world many feel the