Commentary
The Western world has been caught in a spiral of self-harm and debasement for the past three years. Aspects of the underlying psychology have been discussed in abstract terms, regarding mass anxiety and the actions of crowds. Little has been said about the possibility that we are simply terrified of death. This is a fear we may need to address if we are to stop acting like fools.
Death in Life
Death was once part of life. A visit to an old cemetery will reveal that many earlier gravestones are memorials to young children and women of child-bearing age. This is because, obviously, a large proportion of children died before they turned 5, and about 1 in 10 (or more) women died in childbirth. Death happened, and people also traveled, had parties, went to concerts, and lived fulfilled lives.
