This year we have seen so much death and killing, some by natural disasters but not all. This very month began with a senseless gunning down of innocent music fans in Las Vegas. Of course we wonder and debate how it can be stopped.
Is it the weapons or the people on which we should concentrate? This discussion has been going on ever since the problem began and most likely will continue. However this is one thing which we could all do and at very minimal cost which is to stop glorifying death. The most obvious example comes at the end of this month.
Last week I was at the VAMC and expressed to a patient advocate there, that for a medical facility to have decorations such as skeletons and graves, or maybe something showing blood, is really inappropriate. After all, hospitals are supposed to preserve life or at least improve it instead of promoting death.
In past years I have seen a particular funeral director here in Alexandria which on the lawn had huge comical hearses and some other decorations that were sort of mocking death and funerals. Again this did not seem to be very appropriate or a respectful way to treat such matters.
Now parties and sweets are enjoyable, but do we have to be reminded of tragedy and death so much as we enjoy them? Will it cost us anything to just not have such representations?
Jerry Foley
Old Town Alexandria