Heat Indices — Summary

Bombs go off right across the world from where I live, among a people who look like me. This is news because they are not at war — or at least, not very much — & because they look just like me. Meanwhile in America we are blowing up mountains & burning their black hearts to keep cool. Meanwhile in America we are setting off three & a half million pounds of explosives every day in this undeclared war against ourselves. This is not news because it happens every day & is therefore nothing new; because there is no easy- to-tar enemy except perhaps for the black-hearted mountains; & because the people who die from it die slowly & unspectacularly, & are too often guilty of being poor. Meanwhile in America it is hot & getting hotter, & this is news because it keeps us indoors, glued to the news or at least to the sweat- sticky couch. Meanwhile in America the news anchors make a show of indignation at the sun, righteous & well-coiffed as fallen angels, & never speculate about why we might really be so hot, never mention that we are blowing up mountains & burning their black hearts to keep cool.