Ideas of what constitutes respect for the dead changes from time to time. Everyone agrees that autopsies are necessary. And so is medical experimentation with cadavers. The RC says cremation was never an issue with them. (That's not true. They used to say cats were the Devil and should be burned too, BTW.) You used to have be buried in hallowed ground. An urn is considered respectful now though. Necrophagy (which is NOT cannibalism) is becoming more acceptable. Like anyone cares. It used to be a funerary custom of some ancient people's. One Greek philosopher (I forget his name) noted once. Some PETA members think we should respect the dead if they're animals. I don't know about that one. Funerals for pets can help you deal with the loss, as with humans. I've noticed dogs are always upset when any animal dies in front of them. Cats just don't seem to care. But they are nice, and compassionate too I've noticed. They say Elephants scatter the fellow Elephants bones as a last ritual. Unsure about that one. As far as saying it's wrong to eat the dead of animals, like they care. A PETA woman said that once. I agree for now we must at least make sure their meat is produced humanely. But after they're dead? They eat each other all the time. Maybe they want to be eaten then. "Don't let me go to waste" they would say (I'm serious). But necrophilia (as in sex) I don't know. On another message board they said you must always respect people's last wishes. But what if that is what they wanted? Think about that. I'll end on that note. Thoughts?
