Recently, Gumshoe read a quote from the late Margaret Mead who was a cultural anthropologist who made a career of “observing people”. She really was into the denizens of Samoa for some reason. Maybe that skewed principle of the noble savage untouched (unclothed also) from modern civilization touched her academic acumen?
Note: When Gumshoe thinks of Samoa, it brings into Gumshoe’s mind, “Samoas”, that tasty Girl Scout chocolate and coconut cookie. Yummy!
Anyway, back to her quote in which she articulated in her small treatise, “The Many Rights of Life”.
Quote:
The deceased have the right to be mourned after their death and the right to vanish into the unremembered past.
Gumshoe took pause to ponder Ms. Margie Mead’s pontification on the last part — “vanish into the unremembered past”. Did she actually mean now you see me and now you don’t? Hocus-pocus, I’m up in smokus!
Gumshoe never met a deceased person who advised me of their rights to anything. Gumshoe never had to admonish a deceased suspect of their Miranda Rights. Maybe Ms. Margie actually meant the rite (right?) of passage? The passage across the river Styx into oblivion.
Gumshoe, unfortunately, will never truly know, since Ms. Margie is not returning any response or any of her anthropological observations from that sweet goodnight on the other side of Samoa.
Speaking of “sweet”, Gumshoe will now pursue a few tasty Samoas with a cold glass of milk (nonfat) without remorse or guilt.
Remember to always love the ones who love you and even try to love that don’t.
Coram Deo!
Interesting thought bro Danny. I will leave ‘my’ thoughts to Daniel Amiri, a Catholic layman and finance professional. A graduate of theology and classics from the University of Notre Dame, who expresses my thinking in much better words that could I……
“For Americans, we can see a subtle shift away from Jesus’ teaching when discussing “rights.” Americans are proficient at discussing what they have a “right” to do. There’s a right to privacy, a right to speech, a right to practice one’s religion, etc. New rights are proclaimed at a seemingly increasing pace. But this focus on “rights” language can draw us away from the heart of the Gospel. We essentially become burdened with an array of rights that, rather than allowing us to do what we ought, isolates us from our neighbors who often have competing rights that supersede our own.
With so much conversation about “rights,” it is not surprising when American Christians inject this rights language even into our faith life. Christians can easily lose sight of our responsibilities to others when we prioritize self-interested “rights” over Christ’s teaching. Instead of seeing every moment as an opportunity to share the love of Christ, too much focus on ourselves can create a bunker mentality, in which we lash out reflexively against a world we believe is out to strip us of our freedoms at every turn.”
Once again bro you have put forth true wisdom and insight. It just struck me how many “rights” that secular society seem to carve out almost on a daily basis. It is indeed sad that the living deny the God-given right to life to the most vulnerable, helpless and innocent — babies. The culture of death is alive and well. The late Ms Mead was their
proponent by the way. Thanks Mike for responding to my article.
Hmmm. I have a bit of trouble accepting the theory that a deceased person has any rights beyond a decent burial. It seems to me that any related rights belong to the living. The right to mourn the deceased or not. (Perhaps in some cases to even celebrate.)
I agree with you my friend Ken. The deceased deserve a burial, period. They forfeit any further rights beyond the grave. But of course a last will and testament permits them to express their grave thoughts to the living. Where there is a will, there is a relative as the saying goes. Thanks for your comment Ken.