Controversy

"Today, we'll go off-script ... off road, as it were ... and leave the conceptual and strictly theoretical," Mr. Fletcher, the philosophy teacher, informed the first hour class (who presented as distracted, sleepy, and already bored). "We're going to have a controversial conversation - one that takes on philosophy, theology, and social media at the same time." Two of the fog brains in the back row perked up a bit and looked back at him directly. "The question up for discussion is this: which is the greater loss: to lose one's life at an early age or to grow old having never really lived?" They were all sitting up now, and there were gasps. "If we get through that one sufficiently, we'll talk about innocence and acceptance, circumstances and choice. Who wants to start?"