The Lockerbie Forum

On dying

Tessa Ransford says [SR's One Day in Scotland] that in the 'Flyting of life and death' (poem by Hamish Henderson), life does win whatever the four horsemen of the apocalypse have in store for us all. Important words.
     The world will watch Megrahi's death. John Paul II shared his death with the world, extraordinary in a world where death is generally excluded from society. There was an act of love.
     So now. The politics have descended. All is pretty calm. We wait for the death. And when the death happens we shall move on. That's life. But that is not life. Too shortened these motions. Too meaningless these transitions. Megrahi's death will be shared with the world. There is an act of relief – perhaps pity, at best compassion.
     There are hundreds, thousands, of folk whose lives were changed completely by the Lockerbie bomb. Tragically, devastatingly, for the worse.
     Moving away from the grave we ask, what really happened here? What caused it? Who did what? The politicians? Other knaves? Other heroes? Scallions of distant or local parts? Pirates of human well-being? Of human progress? Of understanding. Certainly, even if not intended, the latter.
     The death is inevitable – for us all. When and where it happens has been chosen by politicians (in Libya, Scotland, the US, the UK and the UN, for reasons they hope will make us more likely to agree their rule). Perhaps that's the best we can do. Often but not always fun to watch them argue, but often meaningless. Half-truths.
     So is there truth in an afterlife? This is a vital question. Much action, much social organisation hinges on at least the theory that there is. If the premise is false how irresponsible is the action?
     Did Megrahi believe in rewards beyond life? Did that sway his actions in life? Did others?
     Dying I have yet to do. When it comes I want to do it in private, in connectedness with family and folk I love. And at peace with myself (that part might be especially tricky).
     We will all watch Megrahi. We shall possibly shed tears. How much then shall we see? Those of us who haven't then died, most of us, shall move on. Politicians and all of us. Kenneth was right – it is horrific. Tessa is right – life does win. So how do we build lives that accept realities and create trusting futures? That's the everyday human challenge. Is life – and engagement with others – more scary than death?
     And does creating fantasies about afterlife lead both to crime in life and neglect of living? When Megrahi dies we will pause and think momentarily of these matters. And then engage again with the clutter of our lives, travel and demands. If in that clutter there are children then perhaps they will provide joy, and probably insight.
     Yet with Megrahi's death I feel there is an ending of something. Could it even herald an end of superstition? Something voyeuristic, something Warhol warned us of, something in the anger of Caravaggio – do I dare to eat a peach as Megrahi dies? If not the end of superstition then perhaps the end of narcissism?
     Maybe its just another ordinary moment. Another death.
     Maybe its a spur to live, to look to life without superstition and fear.

PS
But I think not. Religious folk on all sides will revert to their afterlife beliefs. It is their effect on life that is our problem.

Angus Skinner is former chief social work adviser to Scottish ministers. In 1988 he spent Christmas Day at Lockerbie helping manage the response.