Ask Gramps.org

As was the case with some of the survivors of the plane crash in the Andes Mountains in the early ’70s, would you eat human flesh in order to survive?

Gramps,
I was just reading the story of a plane full of rugby players that crashed in the Andes Mountains in the early 1970’s. The survivors, in order to stay alive, ate the flesh of those that had died in the accident. The story was a first hand account from one of the survivors. I was very disturbed by the story. I am not trying to judge, as I haven’t been in a similar situation, so have no room to do so. However, I remember as a young man, hearing my father say it would be better to die, than to eat human flesh. Any thoughts or opinions?
Michael, from Provo, Utah

Dear Michael,
I happened to be in Argentina at the time of that crash and the rescue. It was a very shocking thing when the news of the survivors came out. But because of what they did, there were some survivors. It would be very hard to tell what a person would do in that circumstance. Some of the occupants of that plane who survived the wreck chose to die rather than eat human flesh.
I feel that would be the decision that I would make, but I’m REALLY OLD, and having some insight on what conditions in the spirit world are like, so I can hardly wait to get there! But I must be quick to add that leaving this life is not a decision that is in our hands. Our job is to stay here and fight it out until we’re called home. To purposefully end one’s life is a sin akin to murder. But here another caveat–We can never judge another, and undoubtedly there are those who take their own lives who are not responsible for their actions, and are therefore under no judgement for the act.
Gramps