Many American funerary practices are so barking mad I don’t bother writing about them. This blog is Britcentric not because it is xenophobic or incurious but simply because it confines itself to goings-on of relevance to Brits.
Sure, we’ve picked up one or two bad habits from the US. Embalming may or may not be one of them. And we have a good deal to learn from their home funeralists and those who are pioneering natural burial.
Once in a while I see Americans doing things that make me relieved to be British. Here, we pride ourselves on our tolerance and sense of fair play. It’s the positive spin we put on our disposition to shrug and acquiesce. Over there they can be far more clamorous in the way they express themselves.
One long-running story I have shunned concerns the activities of the Westboro Baptist Church. Claiming the right of free speech granted by the First Amendment of the US Constitution, members of the church picket the funerals of soldiers in the belief that their death is God’s punishment on America for tolerating homosexuality. More here.
And now we learn that funerals have, in certain milieux, become a revenge-opp. Read all about it here.
Sort of puts a perspective on things, doesn’t it?
This kind of thing happens when the enemy has become the evil one and not the evil one the enemy. This has long become the case in war, where the old honor that used to be accorded to one’s enemy has disappeared.
In earlier times, one even buried one’s enemy if necessary. Now one desecrates his grave or shoots at his friends during his funeral.
Thomas Friese
Perpetua’s Garden Cemeteries
I think that is niave Thomas, desecration of bodies has happened in war as long as war has happened.
[…] August 2009 US Funeral Protests – A British View October 7, 2010, 12:41 pm Filed under: Funeral News Bits | Tags: funerals The current Supreme Court consideration of funeral protests as protected free speech has one funeral blogger in the UK “Relieved to be British.” […]