OK ok. I didn't specify enough. This is the type of scenario I was thinking of but neglected to state in the beginning......
If I was in a bank, on a bus, on a plane, etc., and hijackers, robbers, banditos or whoever threatened to kill everyone unless one person was willing to sacrifice their lives on behalf of everyone else, I would step up.
Derek:
Why on earth would you value the life of a complete stranger above your own? You must have very low self-esteem.
It's obvious you've never met me or even know me for that matter. It's not that I don't value my life over a stranger - I do. But in some cases, the taking of one life to save many others, I feel, is by far the best gift you can give. Let's say for instance 20 of us from JWD meet up in a pub. We all come from a huge mix of cultures and hold various religious and atheistic views(you can even throw in some hardcore Bush followers - which I really can't stand all that much). A real wacko storms in and holds everyone hostage. He is out of his mind and is threatening to kill everyone in the pub. He does give one alternative though. He says, "I'll let everyone go right now if one of you steps forward and is willing to let me kill you instead of killing all of you. Once that person steps forward, the rest of you are free to leave. But, if no one steps forward within one minute, everyone will die." What would you do in this scenario, Derek? I believe I have already stated what my course of action would be. And if someone doesn't like my decision, that's too bad. I would much rather be remembered for saving someone else's life than being a cowardly narcissist.
In the end, if I'm dead, I'm not gonna care anymore. Sure, my death might bring about a temporary period of extreme mourning for some, but in time, I'll just be a memory. It's not like the world will stop revolving when I'm gone. It's a shame that some people think that will happen when they die.