“Systematically, we insist on the occasional nature of death – accidents, illnesses, infections, advanced age - revealing in this way our deep desire to deprive from death all its necessary elements, thus making it become just an accidental event.”
-- Sigmund Freud
Kenneth—may I ask you a question?
Of course, Daniel. What is it?
While you were gone this morning, I watched the television. I have some questions about the advertisements.
Uh, oh… um, what questions?
Yes. It would seem to me that you have very many notices for medications of various types.
That’s true, Daniel. The last time I checked, almost one dollar of every four the drug companies take in goes out to commercial advertising. They spend just a little over half of what they spend on advertising in research and development of new drugs. The drug companies as a whole spend around $60 billion a year pushing their products.
Sixty billions of dollars a year? That is about twice the Gross Domestic Product of my whole country of Ghana! That is a lot of money!
Yep—and it’s a big reason why drug prices are so high in this country.
Kenneth—another question, if you do not mind.
I don’t mind at all.
It seems to me that very much of the advertisement is for products that are designed to make people look or feel younger. I saw commercial notices for skin creams for women to eliminate wrinkles from their faces, products to remove the color gray from the hair of men and women, surgical procedures to make people’s bellies less fat, even a pill for a man to take when he is no longer young enough to get himself…
Yes, Daniel. I know which one you’re talking about. The one with the man and woman in separate bathtubs?
Yes, yes! That is the one! I did not understand why they are in bathtubs…
Don’t worry, Daniel. Nobody understands the bathtubs.
But, Kenneth, if I may… not just the medicine advertisements, but almost everything on the television seems to be aimed at making people feel like they are younger!
Well, yes, you’re right. That’s very perceptive of you, Daniel. Most people like to feel young, I guess.
But, why is that? Why do people want to feel younger?
I guess because the younger they feel, the farther they feel from death.
That is very interesting. But why do people want to hide from death? Why are younger people held up as the examples of how to live one’s life? Why are older people always shown as weak and infirm, and where is the respect that they are to be shown?
Daniel, this country worships youth. Everything is geared towards young people. Youth is strong; youth can do anything. Most people would do anything to recapture their youth.
But what about all the wisdom and all the knowledge, all the strength of character and experience that an older person has?
Sadly, there’s not much price on those attributes these days. Everybody wants the 18 to 35 demo…
Kenneth, what is this “18 to 35 demo” you speak of?
Sorry, Daniel. It means the age group from 18 to 35 years of age: their “demographic.”
I see…
All it really means is that television, movies, sports programming—everybody wants that age group as customers. The rest of us don’t really count.
I do not understand this. It would seem to me that your older people would get more respect. I have traveled around the world, and most societies have much greater respect for their elders and not so much for younger people.
You have a good point there. I just think the more folks see older people, the more it reminds them that one day they’re gonna die.
But do not people understand that all living beings die? That death is just a part of the cycle of life?
Sure they do, on one level. It’s just that many Americans don’t want to die any time soon.
Why do Americans want to keep death as far away as possible? This is what I do not understand.
Oh, there’s probably a lot of reasons. There is not much spiritual belief among large sections of the country. When you die, that’s it. There’s nothing else. He who dies with the most toys wins.
Does not that attitude lead to much selfishness?
Yes, it does. Many Americans put a lot of emphasis on the value of their own lives and comfort. There are almost no reasons that sacrifice is justifiable in the minds of many here.
But do not people understand that when they put their own lives above the good of the community, that neither will survive?
…
I am sorry. I have asked too many questions of you.
© 2009, Kenneth M. Rhodes
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Comments
Man do you and I ever have a common message!
I think people should put more into trying to live then worrying so much about dying. What is dying if you haven't had an passion while you have lived, or if you have lived all.
Great post.. Thought provoking for sure.. Thank you
rated
I was amazed how many adverts for medical and beauty products we saw on U.S. televisions; I guess when they're all battling for the viewer's money they feel it necessary to out do each other on the 'sit up and take notice' front.
But many of your points apply here too.
Thank you for this. It takes a village to raise a child, not a television if you want a very good unselfish child.
As one who inches closer to death, deploring wrinkles and gray hair, I just had my cable tv disconnected and that has made me feel a lot younger. I recommend it. Low-cost youthing move.
Chicago Roger-- Two intersecting circles can have much or little common area. From reading your excellent posts, I suspect you and I have more in common rather than less. Thank you!
Eva-- Fear of our personal death is amazingly narcissistic. I am but one component of a six and a half billion moving part machine; this instant is but a speck in the infinite swirl of time.
Noah-- Hmmm... it is interesting that people mourn those who die in their 90's with the comment, "At least she lived a full life." How do they know? Thanks for reading and commenting!
Procopious-- I always find your writing interesting because you look at things from the concept of The Big Picture. As an amateur historian, I appreciate your perspective, sir.
Caroline-- Thank you! Positive reinforcement from a writer of your literate style is better than a glass of orange juice to start the morning!
fireeyes-- No: thank YOU! Your hammer has helped me drive in the same nail.
Harvey-- What is UP with those bathtubs, anyway?? ;)
littlewillie-- Like a good umpire, I try to call 'em as I see 'em. Unlike a lot of umps, I'm willing to listen to arguments as to why I'm wrong!
Linda-- It's good to see you were as taken by the flood of adverts on your visit to the States as I am by the comparative lack of them on my trips to Old Blighty. As different as chalk to cheese, as you might say. Thank you, as always, for reading and commenting. I appreciate you!
Life can be beautiful and meaningful regardless of our age. When we're young, we may be able to accomplish more physically than we can at a later age, but older age gives us a greater perspective on life, how it works, and what's really important.
Thanks for reading and contributing your thoughts.