When you see a white cross on the road side...

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Ummmmm.....no.

 

^ My first time to see a Star of David. But still, not everyone with the white cross is a Christian.

 

Damn, I would have haunted the living hell out of someone who would put a cross on my grave. You are right, of course: some countries/states assume everyone is a Christian (by default, in a way), and in case the deceased was lonely, had not left a will or had not apostatized, they get a cross on their gravestone. There is a similar situation in Poland: to put it simply, you are a Christian, until proven otherwise.

 

nior, that is only because some cemetaries (notably military ones) mandated using crosses. This was entirely a christianity influenced decision and headway has been made to be sensitive to other religions (but not atheists). Most modern cemetaries simply use headstones which may, at the option of the family, have a religious symbol. The cross remains distinctly christian.

 

The funny thing is, that's what's in store for most people anyway, whether they like to think so or not.

(On a side note, I don't think I'd like the location of my death-by-violent-injury to be a significant commemoration for me. I find road-side shrines kind of creepy for that reason. "This shrine marks the spot where beloved person x was killed due to severe blunt force trauma suffered while in a motor vehicle. He/she may have been x, y, or z in life, but they're mainly notable for being killed here in the road.")

 

Yep - I've seen memorials on the side of the road that include a Star of David. I've also seen wreaths and the like. They are not all crosses.

 

Wasn't expecting anyone to agree with me. The accomplishments, the wealth, the only uses they have is bettering one's position and making the time in this world more pleasent until the inevitable end. Perhaps, for a while, there will be remembrance, but those thoughts will be sent to the backburner to rot away, forgotten. It is man's ultimate destiny to be forgotten, whenever it's pleasent to hear or not.

 

I don't completely agree with everything you say, but a lot of the backbreaking and backstabbing people do to get ahead in this life is ultimately futile. This reminded me of one passage of the Epic of Gilgamesh that I like a lot - so thanks, DotW.

Gilgamesh, whither rovest thou?
The life thou pursuest thou shalt not find.
When the gods created mankind,
Death for mankind they set aside,
Life in their own hands retaining.
Thou, Gilgamesh, let full be thy belly
Make thou merry by day and by night.
Of each day make thou a feast of rejoicing,
Day and night dance thou and play
Let thy garments be sparkling and fresh,
Thy head be washed, bathe thou in water.
Pay heed to the little one that holds thy hand,
Let thy spouse delight in thy bosom,
For this is the task of mankind.

 

Gilgamesh has a roadside memorial? Is it a white cross?

 

It's a lion, actually.

 

He probably would not even get a cross after all this Enkidu business. Thank you for the quote, Shaman, as I like it a lot, too.

Still, it is the living whom the crosses seem to annoy... alas, it is unlikely that the dead will have their say on the matter, hehe.

 

Have to agree with that. I mean before we (the living, in case the dead had no instructions) even get to decide if it's gonna be a cross or some other tombstone, we need to decide if the dead is going to be buried or cremated. And let's not forget some culture or religion are still not for embalming.

 

I don't think so. It isn't futile, as it's done with the greater purpose of bettering one's situation in life while waiting for the inevitable end. I know I am doomed to be forgotten, and I am fine with that, and while waiting for the inevitable, why don't I use the tools I have at my disposal to make my way to the top of the world? I see nothing wrong with wanting to have money and power to better my situation and make my time on this prison called earth more... enjoyable... until the end comes for me.

Everybody is equal in front of Death. Accomplishments, or "living a good life" don't mean jack crap when it's time to leave this world. I'm fine with that, too.

 

On the issue of the use of crosses in graves, I think it's the default in the US. If you ask, for example at Arlington National Cemetary, you can get a Star of David or the like, but I'm pretty sure the default if you do nothing is a cross.

As for these rememberences as a whole, I'm with DoTW, surprisingly. I'd rather be remembered, for the scant generation or two that I'm remembered for, for who I am and what I did, not what random, unavoidable event brought an end to it all. Personally, I'm also against the whole 'mourn at the funeral' thing, too. I'd rather see a party to celebrate my life. Kind of odd, since I'm not a party guy.

Hey, if these forums are still up when I bite it, play a game of BG2 in my memory or something, ok? And when you do, kill Anomen!

 

That is why I said "ultimately". Barring any afterlife, but according to most theories on the topic it doesn't help you that much in that regard anyway. I doubt worms have the aesthetic ability to appreciate a beautiful corpse more than any other one.

 

@NOG, will definitely kill Anomen in your memory but you got to let us know when they give you that goodbye party.

 

So let me get this straight... I set foot in the Alleys in the first time for YEARS, expecting a flame war, and instead, I find people AGREEING with me?

...this is weird.

 

Can't argue with the truth, ha-ha.

@NOG - no one will remember long enough to play BG in your honor, most likely. (At most, someone might say "who was that guy at SP again?...eh, forget it.")

Seriously, I suspect that's what 'grieving' is really all about - the process of forgetting about somebody. With a few notable exceptions like Beethoven or JFK or Elvis or Billy Mays or whomever, when did you ever hear of somebody being celebrated 100 years (or 10 years, or 1 year) after their death? Life is for the living.

(I'm not trying to be a 'Debbie Downer'/cue-the-violins drama queen either; it's no big deal.)

 

I'll put a note on it in my will.

We may disagree vehemently about what happens to you when you die, but I think we can all agree what happens to the rest of the world when you die.

World: Wow, so that guy died.
Rest of the World: Yeah, too bad. He was great.
World: Yeah... Who was it again?
Rest of the World: I don't know. I'm gonna get a hooker.
World: And pizza, yeah!

 

Oh yeah, I know the story... according to your god, I will "burn in Hell for all my sins and my evil", that I should redeem myself and accept JC as my lord and saviour blah blah blah blah.

Never going to happen. I *am* evil. To quote a friend of mine... I have learned not to search for the causes and roots of my hatred. Might as well analyze the motivations to breathe.