Immortal Traits

Being immortal is an issue that’s been present in the history of the world ever since. People seeking to become immortal by vile acts such as killing, waging war, or destroying worldwide icons, just to leave their mark on history. History started only a couple of million years ago, with the Creation or the Big Bang. We could say that history is like New York City. Since the epoch of dinosaurs until this moment I’m writing, that represents the bureau of Manhattan. Ever since we can say that from Neanderthal man until now is like Central Park. The Common Era represents a bench at the park. Our lifespan might be, if we are lucky, point of one nail at the bench. Quite honestly, a nail’s point cannot change the course of New York City. Therefore, making ourselves immortal isn’t that bad of a deal is it?

But when talking about evolution, the definition of immortality becomes slightly altered. We are not referring to the man who can live for two hundred years, nor a person who kills J.F Kennedy and becomes immortal. Here we are talking about genes: “The genes are the immortals, or rather, they are defined as genetic entities that come close to deserving the title” (34). We work as machines for the genes, making them immortal. They pass on, from generation to generation, becoming less vivid, but remaining immortal. Avoiding oblivion, genes leave their mark through history. We can see how Dutch settlement in New York City three hundred years ago is reflected today with the customs of the city and the traits they share. The genes are selfish, but at the same time they are being altruists. They help us identify a Chinese person from a German, and an Argentinean from an American. Selfish or altruists, they remain immortal by creating something that will live forever: the traits of the people.