Death Awareness and Acceptance

As a resistance to authoritarianism.

Throughout history, authoritarian regimes have wielded death as a tool of control. Whether through public executions, enforced disappearances, or the suppression of mourning rituals, these regimes have relied on the fear of mortality to suppress dissent and reinforce power.

Yet, in societies where death is openly acknowledged, where individuals are educated about mortality, and where people take control of their end-of-life choices, the grip of tyranny weakens.

Our understanding of death and dying as a natural part of life, sometimes called death literacy or death positivity, offers a profound form of resistance. When I worked as a progressive political organizer, I harnessed fear and anger, motivating people to take action.

Now I want citizens of all political ideologies to see those same tactics used by authoritarians and oligarchs - and resist the pull toward fear, anger… or compliance.

Using Fear of Death to Control

Totalitarian regimes have frequently manipulated the perception of dea…