You Killed My Planet: Prepare to Die

“A few years after seeing the film for the first time, I adapted the line from Inigo Montoya to fit my own narrative, and reflect my own dire conclusions: ‘Hello, my name is Guy McPherson. You killed my planet. Prepare to die.’ It took me a few years to settle on the maxim because I still held out hope that our species would make a serious effort to retain habitat for itself and for other species. My fondness for every aspect of the living planet interfered with my ability to think in a rational manner. Despite my PhD minor in neoclassical economics, I had not yet read John Kenneth Galbraith’s 1977 book, The Age of Uncertainly. Only much later did I come across the signature quote from the first chapter of Galbraith’s book: ‘People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage.’”—Dr. Guy McPherson

Planetary Hospice

By Dr. Guy McPherson

BELLOWS FALLS Vermont—Weekly Hubris)—1 February 2023—William Goldman’s The Princess Bride, (full title: The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure, The “Good Parts” Version) was published in 1973. Adapted for the screen by its author, the film version, directed by Rob Reiner, was released in 1987. To date, it is the only feature-length film I have seen more than twice. I’ve seen The Princess Bride three times since it was released more than 35 years ago.

Over the course of the action, a character played by Mandy Patinkin, one Inigo Montoya, repeats often, and in its entirety, the line: “Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” The expert swordsman then proceeds to demonstrate his proficiency with his sword (as well as his feet), and we feel certain he will make good on his promise (once he locates the culprit responsible).

A few years after seeing the film for the first time, I adapted the line from Inigo Montoya to fit my own narrative, and reflect my own dire conclusions: “Hello, my name is Guy McPherson. You killed my planet. Prepare to die.”

It took me a few years to settle on the maxim because I still held out hope that our species would make a serious effort to retain habitat for itself and for other species. My fondness for every aspect of the living planet interfered with my ability to think in a rational manner. Despite my PhD minor in neoclassical economics, I had not yet read John Kenneth Galbraith’s 1977 book, The Age of Uncertainly. Only much later did I come across the signature quote from the first chapter of Galbraith’s book: “People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage.” The full quote tacks on the following three sentences: “Intellectual myopia, often called stupidity, is no doubt a reason. But the privileged also feel that their privileges, however egregious they many seem to others, are a solemn, basic, God-given right. The sensitivity of the poor to injustice is a trivial thing compared with that of the rich.”

For several years, I incorrectly believed federal governments, the corporate media, and paid climate scientists would promote the MEER: Reflection framework developed by Dr. Ye Tao at Harvard University. After all, the approach described at MEER.org is straightforward. It is expensive, but I incorrectly believed it comprised a bargain compared to the alternative: losing all life on Earth. I still believe it’s worth the effort, but it’s a lonely conclusion.

Perhaps I will be proven incorrect, and government officials and the corporate media will attack the climate crisis as if it threatens all life on Earth, which it does. Perhaps these same government officials and members of the corporate media will convince the citizens of the world that a relatively small sacrifice today will be worth a virtual eternity of tomorrows. Perhaps paid climate scientists will get out of their silos in an effort to adopt a multidisciplinary approach. Perhaps we are not in the midst of the longest, saddest, most excruciating and unsatisfying I told you so in the history of the world.

I’m not blaming the masses, who have already sacrificed much to ensure the retention of wealth for the few. There are a few individuals and several government officials who could swoop in to save the day. They won’t, but they could. And because they won’t, I’m left with a tag line I hate and that I would rather never utter: “Hello, my name is Guy McPherson. You killed my planet. Prepare to die.”

Apparently, we’re willing to let go of habitat for human animals to make sure a few people are comfortable. Apparently, that’s what we consider normal. As a result, I’m left with a single, simple, sad conclusion: at the edge of extinction, only love remains.

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