If it -Eddie’s opinion – as you put it “lost synthetic opinion” does not mean a thing to you, then why respond?

First off, this is a blog and you are certainly welcome to post your opinion, even if it is wrong. Now, that said…

… I’ll bet you get told you’re an idiot pretty often, huh?

You think people are “pathetic” because they happen to be at peace with their lives? Just in case you’re too stupid to see, Chris also had a plan… only his plan inadvertantly led to his untimely death.

Did it ever even occur to you that “society” just might be relative? Obviously not. In fact, I serioulsly doubt much occurs to you at all. Let me clue you in… even animals enjoy a society. It’s just the way things are. If you have such a distaste and desire to scorn society, then why are you bothering to post to a blog on your computer logged onto the internet (if that’s not society, then I opdn’t know what is!) when you could be outside living off the land.

Let me ask you a question… what in your VERY limited opinion makes a person become, how did you put it.. oh yes, a “robot?” Is it because they might conform to laws or they follow a certain set of rules? Understand this, I choose my own path just as Chris chose his. I choose to work for a living and provide for others. I choose to enjoy the company of others. I choose to believe in God.

Post your diploma sometime and I’ll read it to you.

one love and god bless

Your statement: “We all die, why not die pursuing your dreams instead of living a recycled life.” concerns me… A criminal may dream of killing a family…. should he live his dreams? I won’t even go into the dreams of leaders of countries that desire nuclear weapons.

Just because someone dreams of doing something doesn’t necessariy make it right or good. Yes, I know that Chris didn’t have dreams like that but like it or not, society is what it is. The secret to life seems to be an ability to adapt to the changes it forces on us on a daily basis. An anability to adapt to these changes can be disastrous . The weather gets cold, put on warm clothes. We get thirsty, we drink- adapt.

Chris preferred to leave society behind and run from what bothered him rather than adapt to life’s changes.

If a million people read this blog, you’ll get a million different opinions about his story. But I simply cannot put someone on pedistal that heads off into the underbrush with nothing and dies of starvation because of being ill prepared.

If you want someone to look up to that loved the wilderness and actually did something to make changes in the world, read about John Muir. this guy was someone to look up to!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir

I just saw the movie “Into the Wild” tonight and, truth be told, it is inspiring. Whether you believe that Chris was a hero or a fool, you have to admit that he had the courage to pursue his dream. Most of us, at some point, have either wanted to or actually undertaken an adventure of some sort, usually in order to “find ourselves”. However you went about fulfilling this desire, I hope that part of you can identify with Chris.

Wanting to divource himself from what he perceived to be a materialistic society, Chris threw off the majority of worldy concerns and began a trek across the U.S. which eventually led to the wilderness of the Stampede Trail. He did this to see if he could truly exist without modern society, without material need. Does this make him a hero or a moron? Chris’s adventure ended tragically, a outcome made even more tragic by the fact that it could have been avoided. Does this make him a fool or a saint?

I, for one, find him a bit of both, but in the end, I am unable to judge him because I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing him. I am inspired by his courage but at the same time, baffled by his naivety. I, too, feel that American society is much too materialistic, too concerned with acquiring wealth and consuming goods. In “protest” I have spent time alone or with my huskie in the North Dakota woodlands and the Texas State parks. But juxtaposed to this, I find that trek to the local supermarket convenient, as I now have a child to feed, and God knows I love watching NCSI on my dad’s big screen TV.

What I take away from Chris’ experience is the wisdom of moderation. I can moderate my own materialism and nihilism so that they balance each other. Balance is a state that we all desire to attain, whether we realize it or not. I believe had he survived, this is the lesson he would have preached. So I encourage you all to use the lessons of Chris’ life and find your equilibrium, your center, in a manner that won’t cost you as much as it cost Chris. God bless you all.

He was not by any means looking for a death wish, but ironically death came upon him. Although I do feel that in the end he would not have made as deep of an impact on as many people as he did, if he hadn’t died.
I sympathize for him, in that just when he discovered what he went to Alaska to search for, his time came. Just when he was ready to forgive his parents, just when his mind had found simplicity and beauty in the natural environment, just when he realized that relationships provide us with all of the happiness we could ever need- he died.

No shit!