At the end of the day Richard Russell's last dance means very little. But, it resonates with so many who feel so lost. For a fleeting moment, under the setting sun, and above the Cascade Range; he achieved more than some will in their entire life. He is not important because what he did will have an obvious effect on the world. He is important as a symbol for the loss of meaning in society. The modern man has no purpose.
Rich was shackled by the modern social pressures for a man to cull his masculinity and deny his ancestral culture. Unable to connect with his ancestors, he had an unfulfilled yearning to be something more. His coworkers observed him always carrying a book. Reading from Nietzsche, Kant, and Herman Hesse. Born too late to explore the earth; too early to explore the stars. He was forced to explore himself, and what he found was a soul yearning to be free, but which would never happen in the casual course his life was taking.
Marriage, travel, the occasional hike in the wilderness... A modern culture where no one takes responsibility for themselves; where everyone is a victim, where you're being lied to or sold something constantly. All unsatisfying. What Rich experienced, and what we witnessed, was a lifetime of internal suppression exploding in a feat of daring, bravado, and ecstasy. For a moment he lived free, which is more than many of us will ever say about ourselves. He made his final demise a beautiful spectacle,; an art performance. He gave himself a meaning.
Many are looking on knowing that they may live for decades more and not achieve as much as he did in his final moments. When a beautiful suicide is worth more than a long life we know we are broken. Rest in peace Rich. Those who choose to celebrate him understand it's because he achieved something we are afraid we will never be able to do by living. Some respect him because they wish they could do what he did.
I do not believe suicide is the answer. We are at a point where dying is preferable to living and building something beautiful – where death can be more useful than life. If this ordeal has shown anything it's that ordinary men are broken. Although he died for no cause; we can give meaning to his suicide by bettering ourselves and rejecting this sick society that led him to do what he did. Live every moment like you are barrel rolling. Never give up. Revolt against the modern world! Live for something instead of dying for it.
