In trying to combat the heat found in the summer in Phoenix, plans are being made to try to use less asphalt, plant more trees, and develop more open spaces. There are other components of the plan but in my cursory scanning of the article those are the components which stood out to me. I think all of that is to be commended. What really caught my eye was this, ‘” Every death is preventable and shows that there’s much much more for us to do to make the city livable and comfortable for everyone,” said David Hondula, the recently appointed director of Phoenix’s heat response and mitigation office.’
A very laudable sentiment, that. I cannot say how far Mr. Hondula would push his thesis of every death being preventable. It seems it is the sentiment which underlies a portion, great or small, of the Public Health, media, and political discussion during this pandemic. Apparently, death can be denied successfully if we repeat enough, loudly enough, and legislate enough.
Mandates, media, and metaverse! In thee we have placed our trust! We have fled from others; we have hid from others; we have scorned others; so that we might deny death. We have placed our trust in science – as long as we agree with what is says; we have placed our trust in messengers – as long as we like their style; and we have gone along with what the controllers tell us. Despite our best attempts to be subservient we find that the denial of death does not make our living any better. In following all of the exhortations, rules, and guidelines we have found that some of the lives saved have become devoid of meaning, enjoyment, and real living. What an interesting, frightening, and sad development.
Maybe one of the lessons for us is that the denial of death could very well be a denial of life itself. Maybe that is the nature of things.