Death Makes Us All Saints?

Years ago, I went to a funeral of a fellow student who died in a small plane crash and she was, well, how do I put this delicately? In life she was a chubby, plain girl and a malicious gossip who never met another woman she didn't envy and want to claw to shreds. Obviously, people are complicated and she was much more than these flaws but, of course that's my point, why not mourn the entire person instead of some idealized version?

As if when a person dies they suddenly become Saints and their Sins are washed away but what happens is the Truth of their lives and character gets erased too.

I happen to believe that our faults and mistakes and especially our eccentricities is what makes us all dear and loveable so when we're all reduced to one dimensional, bland perfect people in death our best parts die with us.

People have the right to be imperfect, even in death.

These rules don't apply to celebrities because they're not real people; they're only real to their immediate loved ones but, to the larger world they're just postcards of an illusion that society projects its problems and dreams upon. Celebrities don't warrant the effort it takes to mourn them because it's odd and unhealthy to have more than a brief sadness about their passing.

It's also fair to make snap judgments and sweeping conclusions about celebrities in death because they're not real and usually have lived vapid, selfish and hedonistic lives. Do they say this at their funerals? Nope. They all become prophets and angels.

Can you imagine going to a funeral and someone starting a eulogy with "he was a lazy guy who preferred beer to his children" or "she was a cougar with a taste for meth".

Maybe my funeral can kick off with, "she was a spit fire who was intolerant of mediocrity; she tended to be judgemental and demanding ..." Just a suggestion.

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