X-Message-Number: 22937 From: Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 09:17:34 EST Subject: Re: Longevity Activism applauded, brainstorming anti-death slogan In a message dated 11/26/2003 5:01:43 AM Eastern Standard Time, writes: The latest article from the Longevity Meme, which might be of interest to readers here: http://www.longevitymeme.org/articles/viewarticle.cfm?page=1&article_id=16 (Rudi Hoffman response) To Reason and Devon Fowler, What a wonderfully compelling article. I will indeed forward this to friends and clients. We need this motivation and intensity. We are fighting for our very lives here, and the lives of fellow humans we care about. I agree that those of us in the "progressive" life extensionist community need to speak up with a louder voice. The "AIDS" analogy is compelling and accurate. A difficult, multi-faceted elusive death sentence is largely overcome through research and public awareness and funding. It ain't gonna be easy, and it ain't gonna be cheap. But it IS a worthwhile and vital goal. And a national initiative similar to dollars thrown at Cancer, AIDS, or "Homeland Security" could win the fight against ageing. (Let's start with "Licking Bush in 2004!) How many billions are we spending in Iraq on a dubious venture to reduce the risk of terrorism? Perhaps a hundred billion or more. In the US, we have had perhaps about 3000 people killed in a "terrorist" attack. As Reason points out, we lose about 50 times that many EVERY DAY to aging. And no one is dramatically and forcefully pointing out what a RIDICULOUS disconnect this is. It is goddam outrageous. Terrorists probably won't kill you. But aging and death certainly will unless we AGGRESSIVELY take action. I am searching for a slogan, related to this reality. How about "You are 18,250 times more likely to die because of Leon Kass than Osama Bin Laden?" Too long, I know. We need sound bites that work. I know the readership on this list is too intellectual for sloganeering work. We are as a whole intellectuals who disdain the sound bite and slogan, preferring reasoned, nuanced dialogue and full disclosure. But we need a rallying cry that "sings, compels, annoys, and replicates" We need a "HELL NO, WE WON'T GO" chant against the real terrorists...aging and death. I am inspired. I will find a way to make a difference toward a positive and healthy future with longer and healthier life for us all. Thank you, Reason and Devon. Rudi Hoffman Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=22937