Today I heard Jarod Diamond, the author of Guns, Germs and Steel, speak at Severance Hall here in Cleveland. He said that leaders don't correct problems in their societies when they are isolated from the consequences of the problems. He then railed about gated communities near Los Angeles, an example of leaders isolating themselves from society's problems. Which naturally brings up the question, does he, Jarod Diamond, live in a gated community?

After I had read the book, Collapse, which was the topic of today's talk, I felt pretty hopeless. I intellectually contemplated suicide as a means of saving the environment. I didn't feel the need to follow through, though, because I had just experienced the suicide of my husband. I could not destroy my cchildren that way. But there seemed so little hope. Jarod Diamond addressed the issue in his talk. After mentioning how poorly we are doing and some of our problems, both environmental and political, he said something to the effect that we might all consider joining him, walking out, and committing mass suicide. Then he gave his reasons for not doing so. His children. He does believe we can leave this world a place good enough for our children.

Severance Hall is magnificent. The crowd there seemed fairly uncomfortable with the place. I have been there many times for concerts. I often fall asleep there. Excellent music relaxes me and I fall asleep. Turns out, sonorous male voices also lull me to sleep, even when I am anticipating every word. So, I fell asleep several times. And, I woke up several times to see Jarod Diamond looking at me. No disrespect intended on my part.

The worst insult in the Easter Islands, where they practiced cannibalism after their collapse, was to say, "The flesh of your lover is stuck in my teeth." What a horrible thing to say!