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Death enters prime-time
TV:
It's about time
by Dan Hines
Editor/publisher, America's Seniors
Written 2001--
God Bless Bill Moyers. His
series on Public Broadcasting is helping--not forcing--Americans to face
up to an issue that is at the centerpiece of our lives, i.e.,---- our
own mortality.
Death has always been a part of my
life, it seems. My Father died when I was four. My Mother is
now dead. And, my wife of more than 30 years has now been dead for
nearly 10 years. Just this past year, my brother died.
(Notice, I use the term
"dead," not "gone" or "lost." More on that
in a later Commentary.)
Also, as is natural as we grow older,
we seem to associate with an increasing number of people who have
suffered a death of a loved one. Three ladies whom I consider
friends have had husbands who died within the last five years--all at a
relatively early age (in their early 50s).
My experiences with death are not
necessarily unique. All of us have relatives, friends, lovers,
enemies and others who were in their life who have died.
Now, Moyers is helping us realize that
death need not be something feared, and that death is not a 'loss' to
force us into perpetual mourning. Rather, it is an inevitable experience
that each of us shall face.
Starting next week, we shall start a
series of features that will deal with some of the issues of death and
dying. We will offer insights from authorities in the field on
coping with an impending death or a recent one. We will invite our
visitors to share their experiences with us. And, we shall publish as
much pertinent information about grief therapy resources as we can find.
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