Editorial June 27, 2016 Issue

Changing the climate of death

Margaret Rogers

Flags seem to fly at half staff more often than ever in my city, marking the passing of revered persons. They remind me that every day multimillions are mourning the loss of someone. Death is a constant in public conversation, and not only in regard to people. We hear of the death of forests, reefs, entire species; even the death of privacy, traditional mores and institutions, including church.

So much focus on death creates an oppressive mental climate that urgently needs changing. A line from a hymn points a way:

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