To be honest, I don't have a lot of knowledge about how to care for the dead. I remember when my grandfather passed away and I had to take a plane to Japan as soon as I heard the news. I didn't like being at his funeral. I loved my grandfather (and still do) but the event made things uncomfortable. Why do people wear black at funerals? Do funerals have to be this depressing? I honestly also felt bored and sleepy as a buddhist priest kept speaking in a confusing language. It didn't hit me that my grandfather actually passed away until I saw him in an open casket. At the funeral, some people became emotional while others talked about my grandfather. I thought at that time that I should cry-but now I think that I was very confused. The first time I actually became upset about his death was when I came to visit my grandparents the summer after and he wasn't there.
I think there's an unspoken rule in my family (and most likely in other families as well) that you're not allowed to say anything bad about the person who has passed away. That you're supposed to respect and remourse for the dead. And, I agree. Even if someone close in my life that I don't really get along with passes away, I would be upset. Maybe its just another social norm to respect the dead. Death means that the person won't be there anymore physically and even the people who I don't really like has an affect on my life. Life feels weird if suddenly one person dissapears like that. Maybe this just means that people have this assumption that people don't just die. I knew my grandfather was old, but his death was unexpected regardless. Or maybe people just avoid the thought of a close one dying.
Questions:
1. How does the U.S 'care for the dead?'
2. What are the different opinions surrounding caskets and cremation?
3. How does religion play a role on caring for the dead?
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