The litter of roadside memorials
Private grief is better than litter of roadside memorials
Excerpt:
Roadside memorials are just another reminder of how self-centered Americans have become. It is a growing epidemic that individuals expect the rest of society to take note of their feelings as if they mattered in our lives. Not only are these people self-centered, they are presumptuous in assuming that the rest of us want to be involved so intimately in their lives.
Comment: I couldn't agree more!
Earlier article: Signs of mourning
Excerpt:
Nationwide, more roadside memorials mark the intersections and ditches where loved ones breathed their last. The increasing popularity of these memorials -- some of which are so creative that they qualify as folk art -- reflects a shift in the way Americans mourn, observers say. .... Such markers are common in Latino cultures, the Southwest and on Indian reservations. They're also ubiquitous in Eastern Europe ...
Both links were expired but the first excerpt is really cold. The total lack of tolerance for differences in how individuals grieve astonishes me. I’ve never constructed a roadside memorial, but as a law enforcement officer I’ve had to inform people that their family member will not be coming home (something that is never easy – probably the hardest assignment we get.) I do know that constructing a memorial helps some through their grief and the feeling of helplessness that they feel. If the memorial presents a safety hazard or falls into disrepair it should be dealt with.
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