I never thought before about the sheer waste of cremation. Am I weird to have not thought of these things before? weird? no. I think that most people don't like to think of it at all. This book seems to give an unusual perspective on the usefulness of corpses. I think that many people may have difficulty honoring a dead loved one's requests. Religion certainly plays a part. People also like to go to grave sites... so they can 'visit' w/ the deceased.
What do you want done with your bodies when you die, and why? I've always had an idea similar to the composting one for myself. I wanted to perhaps be buried (w/o embalming fluid or casket... just me in dirt) in a place where a tree could be planted over me. The tree would then be like my gravestone. I've liked this idea because loved ones who wanted to come visit could see a tree that was incorporating my molecules into itself. They could touch the bark, and be perhaps touching some of me. If it were planted in an old-growth forest, it may even stand for longer than a gravestone would... And I could haunt the fucker who cut it down. I'd also thought about the idea of having my body dumped into the middle of a shark feeding frenzy... yes this may be a bit violent (hence rough on grieving loved ones), but sharks are my favorite animals, so I wouldn't mind nourishing them.
Before reading your post, I hadn't really contemplated all the good a human corpse could do for humanity, though I am listed as an organ donor.
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branchandroot
Consider that added to the 'to-read' list
Date: 2004-05-07 11:59 am (UTC)I never thought before about the sheer waste of cremation. Am I weird to have not thought of these things before?
weird? no. I think that most people don't like to think of it at all. This book seems to give an unusual perspective on the usefulness of corpses. I think that many people may have difficulty honoring a dead loved one's requests. Religion certainly plays a part. People also like to go to grave sites... so they can 'visit' w/ the deceased.
What do you want done with your bodies when you die, and why?
I've always had an idea similar to the composting one for myself. I wanted to perhaps be buried (w/o embalming fluid or casket... just me in dirt) in a place where a tree could be planted over me. The tree would then be like my gravestone. I've liked this idea because loved ones who wanted to come visit could see a tree that was incorporating my molecules into itself. They could touch the bark, and be perhaps touching some of me. If it were planted in an old-growth forest, it may even stand for longer than a gravestone would... And I could haunt the fucker who cut it down. I'd also thought about the idea of having my body dumped into the middle of a shark feeding frenzy... yes this may be a bit violent (hence rough on grieving loved ones), but sharks are my favorite animals, so I wouldn't mind nourishing them.
Before reading your post, I hadn't really contemplated all the good a human corpse could do for humanity, though I am listed as an organ donor.