Respect for the Dead?

Respect the Dead

                I was driving home today from a long, dragged out day of work and as I was making my turn to go home I noticed a giant cemetery. Upon driving by it, it seemed just like any other cemetery, tall trees planted all around it, artificial flowers next to scattered head stones from people paying their respects, a black, metal, picket fence lined all around as if to keep the dead in, and gravel pathways for cars to drive. I continued to gaze out of the corner of my eye at the calm cemetery and suddenly noticed the headstones just inches away from the fence. Not only were these headstones inches away from the fence, but they were inches away from the road! Where does that leave room for a casket to rest? Does that mean when people drive on the road next to these head stones that they are running over a person’s buried loved one? I was always taught to respect the dead and respecting the dead included never to stand or walk upon someone’s resting place and many other respects.

How many of you think that we should respect the dead? A cemetery is a peaceful place where people go to visit their perished loved ones, showing that they will never forget about them, and it should never be disrespected. I don’t want to see children sneaking around in the cemetery looking for somebody’s dead Grandmother’s ghost. I also think that if you are going to rub a headstone, make sure that you be careful when you do it. Don’t leave markings on someone’s headstone, it is disrespectful! I’m not even sure I understand why people rub head stones!

I was also taught to never speak ill of the dead. I once knew girl we will call Sally. She died in a car accident a couple of years ago because she was driving drunk. She was my best friend in elementary school but we had a falling out because of what we will call irreconcilable differences. I didn’t even know that Sally had died until I read it on Face Book and what I read was NOT pleasant. I was completely infuriated. I read and heard things like “Sally deserved to die for drunk driving!” and “Serves her right!” I even got a text that said something bad about Sally from another friend (of course she is not my friend anymore). Do not say things like this about people who have passed away no matter what the reason! Especially out loud, on Face Book, or Myspace or anything like that! You could really offend or hurt one of Sally’s loved one’s feelings! I think that you should just let people say the good things about someone who has passed on because after they have passed, you have no right to judge. Sally will get judged when she reaches those pearly gates in heaven. Also, be grateful that you still have a life to live, unlike her, whose lease on life was cut short. Life is short and maybe she did not get the chance to travel like she always wanted to, get married, have children; live out her dreams, or to mature as a person.

The world can sometimes be a cruel place but I believe that everything happens for a reason. I also believe that in respecting the dead, you are also respecting life. Sally may have died from driving drunk but I learned a valuable lesson from her mistake. Respect the dead by keeping the memories of the ones who have passed alive. Speak highly of the ones who have passed on because you would not want people to speak ill of you when you are gone.