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#2 (permalink) Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:37 am My Teacher Committed Suicide |
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Hi Nicholas,
| Nicholas wrote: |
| Tell me, what would you do in his position? |
What would I have done if I had been in his position? Not killed myself. But at this particular point in time when he did it, he didn't see any other way out. If he had given the matter time and contemplation, he would not have done it - no matter how bad he was off. As a last resort, I can only think of one tangible reason for committing suicide; and that's encountering a situation of permanent and unbearable pain. But I can't imagine this pain.
| Nicholas wrote: |
| What would you think if you were me? |
Enjoy life. It's as simple as that. It's entirely up to you to either end your life or to try and savour each and every moment of it. _________________ Test of English as a Foreign Language TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher |
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Ralf Language Coach

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1485 Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)
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#3 (permalink) Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:53 am My Teacher Committed Suicide |
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I doubt I'd kill myself, even if there were a lot of pain. There are ways to treat even really horrible pain that didn't exist even 10 years ago, and it's not only with drugs, but also using various sorts of electronics. Even if he can't be cured of all the pain, he can use the pain he has to grow spiritually.
Maybe he killed himself because he thought he would be a burden on his family as he got sicker and came closer to death. However, he was probably selfish if that was his reason, because he didn't seem to worry about the anguish of his family at his premature death. There is also spiritual importance to caring for a sick loved one, and he denied his family the chance to grow in strength and love by taking care of him.
Another thing he wasn't taking into account is that some people with deadly illnesses can be cured for reasons that medical science can't explain. There are people who have seemingly willed cancer out of their bodies and cured other illnesses through what seems like pure hope. Beyond that, even a large number of doctors can be wrong about the outcome of an illness, so it's better to face the illness, rather than just to give up.
The lesson I think you should take from this -- besides what Ralf told you -- is that suicide always takes one person's pain and transfers it to other people who don't deserve to get it. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 5332 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#4 (permalink) Mon Feb 25, 2008 13:09 pm My Teacher Committed Suicide |
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What if I didn't die and end up a vegetable? Not only I would have to live with the shame for the rest of an unuseful life, but I would also have to depend on others.
I think anyone who wants to commit suicide needs to concider this.
Me, I am more scared of the idea of hurting myself, I don't think I can do it.
And Nic, I hope through time you'd feel better. |
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NinaZara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 1165 Location: Malaysia (Cat city)
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#5 (permalink) Mon Feb 25, 2008 14:04 pm My Teacher Committed Suicide |
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Ralf wrote:
| Quote: |
Not killed myself. But at this particular point in time when he did it, he didn't see any other way out. If he had given the matter time and contemplation, he would not have done it - no matter how bad he was off. As a last resort, I can only think of one tangible reason for committing suicide; and that's encountering a situation of permanent and unbearable pain. But I can't imagine this pain. Enjoy life. It's as simple as that. It's entirely up to you to either end your life or to try and savour each and every moment of it. |
Thanks for your suggestion, Ralf. I agree with you. He didn't give a thought before the suicide. He couldn't find time. Look, he told his wife he would go to sleep for a while but instead of going to sleep, he took out the computer connectors and tied them tight to the rail. And that happened. I do agree that no matter what or how hard the problem he had, he should always give some time to think not only about himself but also his family. I can never understand his pain and what caused his quick decision to do it. He was educated in Japan and came back to work in the country. Several times before he attempted suicide by trying to jump off a high-rise building in Malaysia. For me, if I were him, I would keep the last minutes of my life enjoyable and memorable! But he didn't think of it.
Jamie wrote:
| Quote: |
| Maybe he killed himself because he thought he would be a burden on his family as he got sicker and came closer to death. However, he was probably selfish if that was his reason, because he didn't seem to worry about the anguish of his family at his premature death. There is also spiritual importance to caring for a sick loved one, and he denied his family the chance to grow in strength and love by taking care of him. |
I think so, Jamie. The doctors kept asking him to see them again and again (in Malaysia). But he didn't comply with the advice. Perhaps, it was an incurable disease, i'm sure, not HIV/AIDS. Last 2 or 3 years, one of his intellectual friends also committed suicide in Germany. He told his friend died of too much stress. Now it was his turn to do it without thinking about bad impacts on his young wife and family (with no children). I thought that if he had had children, he would have thought better of it, wouldn't he?
| Quote: |
| The lesson I think you should take from this -- besides what Ralf told you -- is that suicide always takes one person's pain and transfers it to other people who don't deserve to get it. |
You're absolutely right, Jamie. His wife, family, friends and students including me are getting hurt by the news and his great shock. My religion has it that when a person commits suicide, next life he is destined to commit suicide again at the same age (34 years old). But I'm praying he will be fine. Thanks, Nina. I'm okay now. I am slowly recovering from this shock and pain. My heart goes out to his wife and family and my country which has lost a great person. We make mitakes sometimes in life but sometimes some kind of mistake doesn't make us any better. It makes us fall to the ground and unable to get up.
Thank you all for your great comments.
Nicholas _________________ Nicholas |
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Nicholas I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 181 Location: Somewhere on the earth
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#6 (permalink) Mon Feb 25, 2008 23:31 pm My Teacher Committed Suicide |
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| Nicholas wrote: |
| what would you do in his position? |
keep fighting. people think that it takes so much courage to kill themselves. actually, i think it takes more to live on!
there are a lot of good examples. i know a true story about this young taiwanese rapper who kept writing and producing a lot of good songs after he was diagnosed with bone cancer (someone help me with the grammar of this sentence please), until his death. during the time (about 1 yr), he suffered a lot. but he contributed a lot.
he was brave and strong, and should be a role model for at least some. |
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Underdog You can meet me at english-test.net

Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Toronto, Ontario
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#7 (permalink) Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:42 am My Teacher Committed Suicide |
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Thanks, Underdog. I'm glad to hear there's such an inspring story, at least to be somebody's. If only my teacher were alive to see. _________________ Nicholas |
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Nicholas I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 181 Location: Somewhere on the earth
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#8 (permalink) Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:55 am My Teacher Committed Suicide |
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| Nicholas wrote: |
| what would you do in his position? |
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Lost_Soul I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 1861 Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
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Ralf Language Coach

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1485 Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)
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#10 (permalink) Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:42 am My Teacher Committed Suicide |
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You're welcome  |
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Lost_Soul I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 1861 Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
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#11 (permalink) Thu Mar 06, 2008 13:47 pm My Teacher Committed Suicide |
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First of all, why am I not being notified of these responses?
Second of all, Alex, which are you? The frog, or the bird?
Thanks anyway, one of the good things I see today. |
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NinaZara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 1165 Location: Malaysia (Cat city)
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Lost_Soul I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 1861 Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
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Nicholas I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 181 Location: Somewhere on the earth
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Lost_Soul I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 1861 Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
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Nicholas I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 181 Location: Somewhere on the earth
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