It’s just a tad-bit ironic. The most difficult decision we have to make in life is whether we have the right to end it.

Suicide, homicide, infanticide, retribution, mercy – all of these are ways and so-called reasons to take a life. All of these are tragic interferences with God’s plan.

While it may not be a comfortable thought for those of us who drool over life’s material possessions, your body is just a rental. It’s not yours.

It’s a soul-holding vessel that ultimately will die, wither away and decompose into dirt.

That being said, under what circumstances can the gift of life be extinguished by human hands? Throwing suicide, homicide and infanticide into the realms of the obvious, let’s focus on retribution and mercy.

Do our governing bodies have the right to exercise capital punishment?

Absolutely not. Capital punishment supporters can doll up their death lust all they want with reassurances that the “victim” is given a quick, painless death. The fact of the matter is that one person has taken up the hobby of playing God.

Besides, punishing those who commit murder with death is the ultimate act of hypocrisy. Yet it doesn’t end with the death penalty. You still have those people who believe they are doing the right thing by pulling the plug of life on the terminally ill.

What some might consider to be an incredible act of mercy is nothing more than a convenient and selfish way to shorten the grieving period. In fact, those who sign off on ending another’s life are assisting in suicide, assuming the terminally ill patient knows what’s taking place.

Of course, the common rebuttal to this stance would feature the issue of suffering. Is it humane to allow another person to experience torturous agony leading up to death? Not only is it perfectly humane, but it’s also your duty as a member of the human race.

What it all boils down to is this: All life begins naturally and therefore should end naturally as well, taking into consideration extreme situations. In a perfect world, there would be no bloodshed in the name of defending freedom. In a just world hate crimes, rape victims and Al Franken would not exist.

So what do you do when you’re a member of the U.S Marine Corps and you’ve got an Iraqi insurgent’s gun barrel pointing at your temple? Is it still wrong to end a life prematurely? No. It’s a different situation that calls for drastic measures. Being faced with a kill-or-be-killed situation is a far cry from the previously mentioned scenarios.

When there is a choice in the matter, the beauty of life should prevail above anything else. There is a choice when faced with the issue of capital punishment. It’s as simple as life in prison. There’s also a choice when you see your grandfather on his deathbed, suffering from cancer. It’s called praying for his deliverance.

Rape victims and U.S. Marines don’t have a choice. If extreme measures aren’t taken, there won’t be a need to make any more choices.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.