Roger Ebert, Salon: "I do not fear death"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Thursday, Sep 15, 2011 11:01 ET

I do not fear death

I will pass away sooner than most people who read this, but that doesn't shake my sense of wonder and joy

By Roger Ebert



I know it is coming, and I do not fear it, because I believe there is nothing on the other side of death to fear. I hope to be spared as much pain as possible on the approach path. I was perfectly content before I was born, and I think of death as the same state. I am grateful for the gifts of intelligence, love, wonder and laughter. You can't say it wasn't interesting. My lifetime's memories are what I have brought home from the trip. I will require them for eternity no more than that little souvenir of the Eiffel Tower I brought home from Paris.

I don't expect to die anytime soon. But it could happen this moment, while I am writing. I was talking the other day with Jim Toback, a friend of 35 years, and the conversation turned to our deaths, as it always does. "Ask someone how they feel about death," he said, "and they'll tell you everyone's gonna die. Ask them, In the next 30 seconds? No, no, no, that's not gonna happen. How about this afternoon? No. What you're really asking them to admit is, Oh my God, I don't really exist. I might be gone at any given second."

Me too, but I hope not. I have plans. Still, illness led me resolutely toward the contemplation of death. That led me to the subject of evolution, that most consoling of all the sciences, and I became engulfed on my blog in unforeseen discussions about God, the afterlife, religion, theory of evolution, intelligent design, reincarnation, the nature of reality, what came before the big bang, what waits after the end, the nature of intelligence, the reality of the self, death, death, death.

Many readers have informed me that it is a tragic and dreary business to go into death without faith. I don't feel that way. "Faith" is neutral. All depends on what is believed in. I have no desire to live forever. The concept frightens me. I am 69, have had cancer, will die sooner than most of those reading this. That is in the nature of things. In my plans for life after death, I say, again with Whitman: http://www.salon.com/books/memoirs/index.html?story=/books/2011/09/15/roger_ebert

[hlthe2b]

1. I never cease to be amazed at Roger Ebert & his wife...

They are amazing people--tremendous role models for courage in the face of incredible challenge. Roger's intelligent analysis of events and people--not to mention that applied to his first love, movies-- is a gift. Talk about teaching by example... I hope we have him around for a long time to come.

[southernyankeebelle]

2. My father-in-law died with his sense of humor intact which made it easier for us to deal with.

[southernyankeebelle]

7. My father-in-law died with his sense of humor also. It really helps make it

easier on the family. He had cancer a long time. On the other hand my brother who never smoke a day in his life died at 39 yrs old. He wasn't ready to go. He found out right before christmas and died right after easter. I still worry he isn't at peace and I think of him often.

[beac]

3. I'm glad he is at peace and without fear. I fear-- no actually I am sure, that

the world will be a poorer place when he is gone.

[applegrove]

4. What a great man.

[fegi052li]

9. agreed

and a very good writer.

[barbtries]

5. as it turns out,

roger ebert is a truly great man.

[Name removed]

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[Devin M]

8. Kinda old.....

Just sayin'

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[Delphinus]

12. Really enjoyed this.

A lot to cogitate upon.