Letters: Dec. 16, 1996

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CAN WE STAY YOUNG?

"Imagine the sweeping adjustment society will have to make if the baby boomers rock on for another century." DAVID NELSON BLAIR Easton, Pennsylvania

Yes, the prospect of living 100 years or even longer is quite exciting [MEDICINE, Nov. 25]. Yet what will mankind do with this extended life-span? Will we use these extra years of life to wage war against both the environment and one another? Or will we use the time to teach, grow, respect the earth and live in peace with our neighbors? CHRISTOPHER J. RENNER Phoenix, Arizona

I love scientists; they are truly some of our brightest stars. Without them, life would be hellish; and because of them, life for the Methuselah wannabes will be hell. I am thrilled to see that scientists have found another way to let the wealthy inherit what's left of the earth. I say to the rich and famous, good luck, enjoy the long and youthful life your money will buy, strive to be like your furniture--antique--and change spare body parts as often as your cars do. Hold on to what's left of the earth--along with the nine-legged, three-eyed frogs; the leafless trees; and the insane cows--because I'm outta here! CORA DIXON New York City

How much easier life would be for everyone if the emphasis were on how to grow old gracefully rather than on how to stay young forever. JOANNE PILESKI Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Considering the world we live in, why would anyone want to live past 70, let alone 120? MATT SLAVICK Levittown, Pennsylvania Via E-mail

The most obvious negative associated with dramatically increased life-spans is a worsening overpopulation problem. And how about conflicts between the young and the aged because the young will not be able to get jobs? Since anti-aging treatments will most probably be expensive, the gap between the (long-lived) rich and the (mortal) poor will widen further. Finally, if you live to be 120 years old, you will have to work the majority of those years in order to survive. Do you really want a job as a greeter at Wal-Mart when you're 115 years old? BOB CHAMBERS San Diego Via E-mail

Your article was "infotaining," but every one of us will still die one day. In America, surrounded by distortions of death, we need help coping with that reality. Facing old age, sickness and death prompted the Buddha to seek enlightenment. We can live and die expressing the best qualities of our humanity, but seeking to be forever young isn't likely to produce that result. KEN MEECE, Director St. Joseph Health System Eureka, California Via E-mail

When I lie dying 40, 50 or even 60 years from now, I will face death not with fear for myself, but for the burned-out, used-up world my generation and the ones preceding it left behind. CHRISTOPHER M. HADDAD Alsston, Massachusetts Via E-mail