Memory Morality.

"As memory may be a paradise from which we cannot be driven, it may also be a hell from which we cannot escape."

~John Lancaster Spalding.

       Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind is undoubtedly one of my favorite films of all time. For those of you unfamiliar to the film, I'll give you a brief synopsis (although I do expect you to illegally download and watch it as soon as you finish reading this ;]). Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy and girl break up, devastation ensues. In the film, there is a theoretical company (oddly resembling ghost-busters)that are able to erase all of ones selected memory involving a certain person or subject. Realistically enough, the memory erasing happens in the comfort of your own home, while you're sleeping, surrounded by a bunch of lab geeks having sex in your living room and drinking your liquor while they are supposed to be monitoring your brain activity, while they are holding your life in their hands(sure, that sounds safe...).
 
       If this theory could somehow become a reality, and with one pill you were able to erase the entire memory of a bad childhood, a nasty breakup, or an embarrassing mistake, possibly going as far as ridding your memory of a single person, would you?

       Scientists have indeed created a drug to do just that. Not to the extent of what Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind has done, mind you, but the same theory applies. The Telegram had published the article on line, and with a quick google, you can find out how it works.
 
       In considering something as powerful as erasing memories, or people, from your mind, there is always the question of ethics and morality. Is this the right thing to do? People can speculate, but in the end the idea will end up being as controversial as the [hoaxed] moon landing. Some people may argue that our memories make us who we are today, and that my suffering through the hardships, we learn not to make the same mistakes in the future. Others may argue that there may be an alternate way to learn these lessons somewhere down the road. A route involving less pain for the sufferer. There is also the argument that one day, you will look back on bad memories and be able to smile. You may realize that they are no longer as detrimental to your health as you once believed they were, and you will be able to move on.

       Personally, if given such an opportunity, I wouldn't change a thing. Everybody has their share of mistakes, of loss and of heartbreak. This doesn't mean that they aren't able to reflect on the times of euphoria that they may have experienced in bursts through the turmoil. With every mistake, their is a lesson learned. With every loss, there is a time where you had. With every heartbreak, there is a heart that was once intact. Is losing the pain worth also losing the happy memories that are associated? I think not. My memory is like a film that I can play over in my head, to experience nostalgia and smile, cry and reminisce while looking back on the things that I have experienced.

I wouldn't trade that film for anything.