As I am sure many of you are well aware, acclaimed Hollywood director Tony Scott committed suicide on Sunday. He was 68 years old. Mr. Scott apparently drove his car to the Vincent Thomas bridge in LA at 12:30pm on Sunday. He then exited the car, scaled a 10 foot fence and jumped to his death, in full view of other motorists and boaters below. It has been speculated that Mr. Scott had an inoperable brain tumor and that could perhaps explain his suicide.
As of this writing, there are several sites disputing the claims that Mr. Scott did indeed have brain cancer. So it is still up for debate at this hour. But if it is proven true that Scott did indeed have brain cancer it raises some interesting questions, in my opinion, in regards to Mr. Scott's suicide.
The central question to me, if the rumors of cancer are proven true, is whether Mr. Scott's actions were justified or cowardly. I have imagined if it was myself who received the news of having an inoperable, probably terminal, brain tumor. I imagine myself in the room, alone with the doctor as I am sure Mr. Scott was. Thoughts of my two children, Scott had two as well, and then my wife. Knowing how painful to me it would be to have my young sons see me deteriorate, as I most certainly would. The struggles I would put my wife through with her having to care for me when things took the turn for the worse and I was bed-ridden, sick from the treatment, unable to eat. My mind would be preoccupied with just how bad it would get and just how much I would put my family through.
When I put myself in that mindset, I begin to really understand why Mr. Scott may have decided that suicide was the better option. I begin to see how ending your life on your terms and when you want to could be very appealing. How satisfying it would be knowing your family, and more importantly your children, would remember you only as the vibrant, driven, healthy person they knew you as before your death and not as some helpless, pale shadow of your former self.
I see the appeal of it and it is a perfectly justifiable viewpoint and mindset. However, with that said, I can say that I still feel what Mr. Scott did was cowardly and selfish. There has been many people who have lived many years with brain tumors. It is possible that Mr. Scott could have lived another 2-4 years with the tumor. That is 2-4 years he could spend with his wife, his children. Mr. Scott has more wealth than can be imagined. I am sure he could have walked away from his duties in the production company he and his brother Ridley (Scott) formed, as well as any future directing projects. He could then spend real quality time with his family before the time came.
Now I grant that I was not present to hear the diagnosis and I do not know the timetable Mr. Scott's physician gave him. So he could have had 6 months, a year, maybe more, maybe less. But the point is that he would have had more time. It just feels selfish to me to take your own life and deny your children and wife that time they could have had with you. I understand the desire to remain strong, invincible in your children's eyes, the desire to never appear weak in front of them. But at some point as a father you have to realize that your time with them is more important than how they see you in the end.
I am certain Mr. Scott's children would have remembered him as he was before the cancer and not how he was when it finally got him. They would have remembered him for his courage in fighting the cancer and not giving up. They would have remembered him when he was vital, vibrant, and full of life. Sure, they would have had the images of him near death with them always. But they still would have chose to remember him before all that.
Another thing to consider is all the good in the world Mr. Scott could have done with the limited time he had left. He could have set up non-profits to help those in need, raised money for cancer research, and used his celebrity and clout to champion worthy causes. He could have used the limited time he had to make as much of an impact on the world around him, and those specifically in need. He could have used the cancer as a way to give him greater focus and with the limited timetable really accomplish alot.
But alas he did not. Mr. Scott decided it was easier to just take his own life and protect his family from the pain his eventual downward path would cause them. He decided it was better to decide when he was gonna leave this Earth and how he was gonna do it. But ultimately it was the wrong decision, the wrong path to take.
So now I leave it to you my readers. When is it not cowardly and selfish to take your own life? Do you feel Mr. Scott was cowardly and selfish for taking his life instead of facing the cancer?
I am saddened at Mr. Scott's death and feel immense pain for his two boys and wife. But I still feel it was better for him to suffer through and have as much time as he would be allowed with the ones he loved. When and if the time comes, I will choose to fight for as long as I can and be there for the ones that I love and whom love me.
It is truly a sad tragic event. My heart goes out to the Mr. Scott's family and friends.
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