People reacting with horror and outrage to the tone in which this article was written do not “get” the sarcasm and irony that apparently was intended. React with all the outrage you can muster…the increase in suicide is occurring worldwide. Check the statistics for the US. Suicides are not always done quickly: many people continue smoking cigarettes when they are aware they are becoming ill or have a genetic predisposition to cancer. They either cannot or do not seek help until they know they are terminally ill. In the US, many die young of lung cancer or alcohol poisoning and rarely is suicide considered to be a factor. “Living homeless” in the US is not pleasant. Being among the working poor, who barely make rent on a room from month to month and cannot save even ten dollars per month to escape poverty or increase their chances at a better life…this is also not a pleasant existence. Living from one’s car and being subjected to harassment by police…also not a reasonable way for people to live. What I, as an American, find so compelling about the way these suicides are being done is that the people are trying to show consideration for others while taking their own lives. I suppose it is true of the Japanese that, even when in such emotional turmoil and pain that they wish to end their lives, the individuals show courtesy toward others. How very unlike the Americans. I understand and feel compassion for people who have lost their jobs, who are living in the streets or in their cars, have no one they feel will listen to and understand their pain and see no way out of their situation, except to kill themselves. This world is not an easy one to live in and it becomes colder and meaner every day. In America, it is assumed that people are homeless because they’ve done something wrong or are druggies, drunks, idiots, lazy bums. While this may be true of a small percentage of homeless people, the greater truth that is growing larger every day is that people often cannot find work, people often cannot keep making payments on homes, people with very high qualifications find themselves getting into their 50’s and, even if their skills are fantastic, they are passed over for jobs they can do and, if they are lucky, they can find some minimum wage job or get into a “retraining program” where they are paid almost enough to survive. After enduring the loss of everything, being victimized on the streets and reduced to begging for handouts, suicide can be the only light a person can see at the end of a very dark tunnel. Until you have lived this hell, do not pass judgment on those who try to find their way out of the maze of pain only to find they are considered “bad people” because they’ve fallen on hard times and, when they can sometimes find a way out, often their “benefactors” seek to plunder them and then discard them. After a few of those experiences, people — even 14 year olds — grow weary. I don’t know what was going on in this girl’s life. For all I know she got pregnant, was being abused by someone, had an undiagnosed mental illness or felt overwhelmed by the stress of being alive in her world. Please don’t ask WTF…you know WTF and, if you have a heart and half a brain, you’ll understand the situation will be getting worse before it gets better — all over the world. It’s everyone for themselves these days and the takers far outnumber those who will give. And I am not talking giving pocket change to panhandlers. I am speaking about a room with a door that locks and the ability have time to rebuild self-esteem. As the gap between the haves and have-nots widens in this country, you will have to ask “why couldn’t someone have opened their homes and their hearts to someone less fortunate?” These days, I’m seeing extremely religious people checking into motel rooms and overdosing on medications. Which, of course, leaves the motel employees or manager to deal with the shock of finding a body and cleaning up afterwards. In America, people don’t leave signs. And I’m noticing more often, they’re not leaving notes. Rest in Peace, young woman. Thank you for your courtesy.