None of us have a choice on whether or not we are born and have to live. We should, I think, have a choice over whether or not we continue to live. As Nietzsche noted, we are old enough to die the day we are born, and many of us die earlier than might normally be expected, because of accidents, diseases, or war. Americans seems to have come to the view that the quantity of life is more important than the quality--probably a result of making the dollar our god and success being measured in quantitative terms. Quality, however, as in quality of life is more important than quantity. Someone who makes a commitment to continue living in support of a cause--such as war--should live up to that commitment, but someone who is not so bound should be free to take their lives. The family and friends only think of themselves and how they feel--and not how the subject feels. Anyone should, at any age and in any condition, have a right to leave the scene, and no family or friends should have a say in saying yes or no--they're just being selfish. Of course, the capitalists will object because they will lose "resources" in which they may have invested a lot of training and other dollars--but they shouldn't have a say either.