Henrique Dias Freire and Martin Grossmann reflect on death as a societal waiting list

In an editorial for a Portuguese newspaper, Henrique Dias Freire quotes a Faro oncology nurse who says, “We are all on a waiting list.” The piece uses the metaphor of a waiting list to describe the unavoidable proximity of death, noting that no one knows their position, time, or criteria for the final call. Freire highlights advances in cancer treatment that have turned some fatal diseases into chronic conditions, while urging recognition of the reality of mortality.

In a Brazilian cultural column, professor Martin Grossmann argues that acknowledging death as a constant condition—“a permanent state of dying”—can fuel resistance against oppressive circumstances. He links the idea to Epicurean philosophy, the song “Vai Levando” by Chico Buarque, and literary works such as João Cabral de Melo Neto’s *Morte e Vida Severina*. Grossmann suggests that confronting death may generate new forms of social and personal resilience.