Last May a young bungee jumper died jumping in the Swiss Alps. Yes, the doomed jumper was tied securely to a cord. Such sports are not marked by time trails and points. They are strictly pass-fail. Taunting death has become the ultimate thrill.
Death is an inescapable part of living.
What concerns me is the smirking lack of respect for death. Two young gang members brutally murdered a truck driver in St. Louis, MO two years ago as part of a gang initiation. A chill went through me watching their trial wondering if they would be required to pay the ultimate price with their lives. The young killers looked bored. Our cultural enthrallment with daring death to claim us by committing unspeakably dangerous acts stems from our mounting lack of respect for life.