No grammar rules are absolute, Rev. I think the comma was fine, there was an implied coordinating conjunction: "Most of us will die, [but] I am an optimist." Like the implied coordinating conjunction "because" in my previous sentence! I think the comma looked better than the semi-colon in the headline.

My favourite example of a violation of grammar rules: Apparently Thurber would write, "The flag is red white and blue" and argue it with his editor until he was blue in the face. I think Thurber had a point in that the sentence is completely readable and understandable without the commas. I now use this construction sometimes myself for very short lists of very short words, even though I am a great believer in the Oxford comma.

LOL Nice to be discussing something with you that is not political, Rev!