Death is scary because it represents the unknown. Whilst some religious people theorize they will go to heaven/paradise/valhalla/reincarnation whatever afterlife they believe in, no one is completely certain with proof that there is anything after death. We can all say that we're not scared of death but when it comes down to it we strive for life with every breath we take, to say you're not afraid of the unknown or that you're unafraid of the idea of death is easily done. To actually know you're dying or are about to die and to not be scared, is something different completely.

I'd like to think I'm not scared of death, that I'll come to face it with courage and yet I have no misgivings about it. I have considered giving up on this life to points where I know for sure that to continue down certain paths I have walked would definitely have killed me, but every time I have done so my natural desire above all things to survive and to live alongside my fear of death and the unknown has made me turn back and live the life I have been given. I think all of you who claim you're not afraid to die need to be put in the position where you are minutes away from your own death whether it is at your own or someone else's hands and then you can comment on this yet whatever you say I'll know that those who come and comment on the fear of death, regardless of what they say will be those who looked in to that abyss that is the prospect of dying and were afraid, those who were not scared would be dead.

The people we often consider to have died a heroes death, unafraid even to the last such as many of the soldiers who have died fighting in wars (especially since world war 2 where they are often hailed as heroes for saving squad mates or civilians) and been given such accolades were not alive afterwards to tell us the truth of it. In my opinion they were scared of death as any normal person is but something drove them to say "hey I'm scared, I'm also pretty sure this will kill me and it probably will hurt a hell of a lot but if I don't do this, if I don't face this down and get the job done...how many more lives will be lost?" That passion to see many more people survive that sacrifice can be made by someone scared of the end of the unknown to say they died bravely, unafraid in a sense belittles their actions. Alas this is just my opinion and some of you might disagree with me but then thats your opinion on things.