Resolved: When given the chance, we should emulate the choice of Achilles

"It's better to burn out than to fade away"- Neil Young1) Not everyone must make the choiceWe must recognize that few people will ever face the dilemma posed to Achilles. Most people will face a life of anonymity whether they like it or not. When we evaluate the Resolution, we must acknowledge that a destiny of glory necessarily selects only those most fit for such a life.The Resolution does not ask if we all must forego a peaceful life, but whether those who face the dilemma of the Resolution must.2) The Life of Glory inspires humanity to sustainable greatness.The tale of Achilles is a model for how a life of glory reaches far beyond the life of one man and echoes through history, inspiring all oh mankind's progeny to greatness. Achilles is the archetypal warrior, a paradigm of bravery and skill that has inspired thousands of soldiers over the course of time. One example of this is Alexander the Great, who was famous for his admiration of Achilles. Alexander conquered the known world, building up great cities such as Alexandria and spreading the cultures of Greece and Egypt across the mediterranean and Middle East. Much of Western society is indebted to the influence of Alexander, and in turn to the myth of Achilles.In turn, Alexander exemplifies the choice of Achilles. Alexander sunk his life into his military venture, abandoning the possibility of a contented life as a Macedonian king. Alexander himself died young in his mid-thirties, but achieved the long-lasting greatness of Achilles.Alexander in turn became an inspiration to the great Caesar. Caesar is said to have wept when he realized that Caesar was the same age as Alexander was when he had conquered the known world. Alexander was a model for Caesar when the great Roman put his own life on the line in a highrisk campaign against Pompey. Caesar eventually became victorious and laid the foundations for the Roman empire, yet another cornerstone of Western Civilization.http://en.wikipedia.org...;3) Refusal of a life of Glory is Cowardice, with a high cost to our peersAchilles' choice often comes at times when we are asked to sacrifice ourselves for those around us. We think of the soldier who makes a courageous run through the line of fire to save his brothers in arms, who is successful but dies as a result. He is reward with the highest honors of his country and the gratitude of the men he saved, their family, and the descendents of their family.Should that same man choose not to sacrifice his own life for those of his peers, we would call him a coward. Glory is earned through great achievements at great personal sacrifice and require bravery and honor. To shirk the duties bound up with the pursuit of glory can only be called cowardice. It is to be disdained and reviled.4) Pleasure is of lower value than the virtues of AchillesA long happy life may appear at first glance to preferable, for isn't a life of peace and pleasure better than one of strife and hardship? But consider the greatest achievements of humanity- the Eiffel Tower, the moon landing, the Mona Lisa. These are not the products of long and peaceful lives. These are the products of men willing to take risks, to work hard and forego serenity and base pleasure for the greater joys aesthetic beauty and human achievement.A truly good life is not one of longevity and peace, it is one of self-respect and human achievement. A good life is one that exemplifies the best aspects of humanity, and the best aspects of humanity are bravery, accomplishment, and ambition. These are the traits Achilles chose to embody. The life of peace and anonymity abandons the burden of greatness because it is difficult, because it asks too much. Achilles was not afraid of the burden of being a man- he chose to exemlify what it means to accept the burden of living a good life. Both Achilles and humanity are better for his decision.