Celebrating a person's life after they die

[ManaMinori 4,149]

Am I the only one who feels like this is silly and contrary, almost disrespectful, even? Especially for fans of a prominent person. If you really love a person, shouldn't you celebrate their life I dunno, while they're LIVING? Every day that they're in the word, living, breathing, and able to actually see and be grateful that there's people out there who love them enough to celebrate the fact tat they're in the here and now, rather than waiting until they're dead and in the ground, to merely "celebrate" the legacy they left behind?

Edited April 23, 2016 by Nightmare Muffin

[Luminance 2,187]

That's so true. Me personally because when I lost my father, everybody that he know didn't visit him when he was still living but only to be there when it's too late.

[galaxysquid 2,122]

I'm not really a fan of funerals or burials. It makes me very uncomfortable to even look at a dead body in person and the atmosphere in general most of the time, makes me sick to my stomach.

 

I mean I think people usually do celebrate people's lives on their birthday every year but that's about it I think. 

[Megas 28,133]

There's nothing wrong with it imo, in fact it helps people remember the joy these people brought to our lives regardless of the past. I mean, before she died, people were so caught up with Chyna's porn career, her controversial relationship with the WWE/Triple H/Stephanie McMahon, her drug abuse that they almost forgot how much of a pioneer she was for both women's wrestling and the industry itself, and it wasn't until her death where some realized this.

 

While it usually sucks that people usually don't take notice until they die, but at the same time once people take notice, we take notice and we truly appreciate their legacy and the impact they left

Edited April 23, 2016 by Megas

[CheeryFox 23,824]

I see no issue venerating / celebrating someone after death. It's seen in many cultures. 

[Spanish In Physician 297]

Indeed. As they say, a funeral is for the living. The dead are just that, and it does no good to them to celebrate their life. It's for the ones who are left behind. Beyond this, it is a perfectly healthy way to deal with pent up emotions. As sentient thinkers we take life for granted until it ends, then people look back at all of our accomplishments in life. It's very similar to completing a video game and getting a screen showing your stats in my opinion.

[jackleapp81 456]

Your post reminds me of a book that my Mom used to read when I was a kid called "Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch". I haven't read it in a really long time, but it went something like this:

 

Mr. Hatch was a very lonely man, and he believed that nobody loved him. He gets a Valentine in the mail that says "Somebody Loves You" on it, and it has such a positive effect on him. He starts talking to people, being friendly, and making a difference in everyone's lives. When Mr. Hatch finds out that the original note wasn't meant for him, he gets depressed and thinks to himself: "I guess I was right. Nobody loves me."

But that one day in his life, when he was open and outwardly kind to his coworkers and friends made all the difference in the world. Everybody loved Mr. Hatch now, and he wasn't lonely anymore.

 

It's a pretty simple message, and it doesn't always work out like that in real life, but the general message resonates with me on this topic. If people reminded each other every once in awhile that they are loved and appreciated, it can completely change their outward attitude towards the world.

 

It is sad that some people don't get this kind of recognition or appreciation in their daily lives. Unfortunately, most people are too concerned with themselves to make a difference.

[Invincible 2,092]

It's just how some people are. Sometimes you don't understand how attached to a person you've become until they're gone.

[captainborgue 343]

The hostility in the OP's presentation confuses me. Does that mean that one must stop caring about a person entirely when they have died? That's just silly- we will all die at some point. It does the dead no good to mourn or celebrate, sure- but it's not for them anyway.

 

Now, ignoring a person until they have passed and then making a big deal out of it is, in my opinion, stupid- but what of people we admire who have been dead longer than we have been alive? Does that mean I can't admire Teddy Roosevelt or appreciate the plays of Shakespeare?

 

I guess I don't understand why it would bother someone how another person chooses to cope with mortality...

[Malinter 3,064]

well when people say "celebrate" in this regard, its meant to say "remember the good things/times that person made for others" even if that's just talking about them. 

[ManaMinori 4,149]

It's just how some people are. Sometimes you don't understand how attached to a person you've become until they're gone.

that hardly makes it right. In fact, it's all the more disrespectful, imo. To ignore or not take notice of them and what they mean to you, and let them know it, only to realize it when it's too late, and praise their life when they're dead and unable to receive those feelings and appreciation. Other than being an emotional outlett for those who remain living, all their praise and admiration can't be recieved by the one they're giving it to, so what good is it, really?

[Spanish In Physician 297]

that hardly makes it right. In fact, it's all the more disrespectful, imo. To ignore or not take notice of them and what they mean to you, and let them know it, only to realize it when it's too late, and praise their life when they're dead and unable to receive those feelings and appreciation. Other than being an emotional outlett for those who remain living, all their praise and admiration can't be recieved by the one they're giving it to, so what good is it, really?

Again, it really isn't for the dead. The way you say it, makes it seem like it would be better to simply forget they ever existed? I hardly think that is respectful to the dead. This being said, I understand I could be misinterpreting what you are saying, but still. A celebration of ones life is not for the dead. It is for the living whom were left behind. A means for them to cope with loss and grief peacefully before moving on with their life. We are all going to die one day. That is just what we live to do. We are born, we live, and then we die. After you cross the threshold of death, you are no longer tied to this world though. At least not in the tangible sense. That being said, death is something that should be celebrated to remember the great times you've had with the deceased.

[Concerned Bystander 2,905]

People celebrate all manner of accomplishments, achievements and landmarks throughout our lives.  Starting with when we are born and ending when we shuffle off this mortal coil.  It makes perfect sense to me to look back on a person's life and celebrate all that they have done.  Of course having one big celebration at the end of life doesn't replace the need to recognise people while they are still alive, that should go without saying.

 

Our lives are bookended by birth and death, and just as a birth is a celebration of a new life begun, a funeral should be a celebration of a life lived.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 42,202]

I really don't see how remembering someone for the positive impact they have had on your life is even remotely 'disrespectful'. 

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,306]

I think there's nothing whatsoever wrong with or disrespectful about remembering a deceased person you love.  Notice I didn't say "loved"; the love you feel for a person doesn't expire simply because they've passed away.  The fond memories of moments you shared with that person are what keep them alive in your mind and heart, and that's a beautiful thing.

 

And excuse me for asking, @Nightmare Muffin, but aren't you religious?  Don't you believe that the people who pass away still can appreciate the feelings you have and continue to express towards them?  Correct me if I'm mistaken.

 

Despite my being, for all intents and purposes, an atheist, I still feel somehow connected to my grandfather.  I dream about him fairly often, and I have used that as an opportunity to just enjoy seeing him again.  I never got to say goodbye, and it's started to feel as though I don't really have to.

[ManaMinori 4,149]

I really don't see how remembering someone for the positive impact they have had on your life is even remotely 'disrespectful'.

 

I really don't see how remembering someone for the positive impact they have had on your life is even remotely 'disrespectful'.

 

that wasn't my point. Nothing wrong with remembering the lost loved ones. What I'm trying to stress is the disrespect for the person by your putting off to honor them and pay tribute to their life when they're dead and gone. Why not before, when they're living? How will I know if someone loved me if they wait till I'm dead to honor me and appreciate me? How will anyone?

You can hold their memory and legacy in your memory when they die, but if you don't celebrate their existance while the actually exist, then why bother doing it, when they die, and go "omg hey, I loved you so much", when you never showed it in any way, before?

[Luminance 2,187]

Remembering and celebrating the life of an loved one can bring healing to those who mourn. It's bittersweet.

[Zantetsuken 364]

I have a feeling that this thread is made is made in response to the recent passing of Prince. 

 

For those who don't know who Prince is, he was a music industry icon who was compared to people like Micheal Jackson and Elvis Presley in terms of influence, popularity, and talent. Some radio stations have responded to the death by playing his music a bit more often in remembrance, this happens when any influential mainstream musician dies.

 

I see absolutely nothing wrong with celebrating the legacy people left behind. Musicians like Prince or actors like Robin Williams, I believe need to be celebrated after their death. They have both made valuable contributions to the medias they have chosen to work in.

 

I believe if we don't celebrate these people's legacy after they die its unimaginably more disrespectful than if we were to. By honoring these legacy's we are acknowledging that we as a collective have noticed what these people have done and agree that it is worth honoring which is one of the most respectful things we can do in their passing. 

 

As for celebrating these legacy's when they are alive, we do, you just don't hear about it, mainly because that legacy is still being written, especially if the musician or actor or other famous person of still touring or working. Prince was in the middle of or just ended a tour when he died and Micheal Jackson was planning one when he passed. People still celebrate performers when they are alive by going to their shows and/or buying their music, movies, whatever. 

 

As for personal losses that don't really effect anyone outside of family and friends the person who died was apart of they need to be honored too, by their family and friends, its common respect.

 

No matter who died wither its an extremely talented musician or artist and it affects millions of people worldwide or if its a family member you loved It's common courtesy to celebrate their achievements and pay your respects.

 

As someone who lost his grandmother earlier in the year I find this notion pretty sick and this is personal to me so I apologize for the long ranty post and I hope I got my point across. We need to honor those who have died and were close to us. As for musicians and movie stars, it's normal for fans to pay their respects, bring flowers to the residence and what have you. We respect the dead because they deserve respect, wither they can receive it or not. 

[Fluttershyfan94 5,749]

I agree with this, although it's good to show that you care when that person dies I think it's more important to show them you care while they're living. 

[Zyrael 1,473]

I forgive it, given that, when a person dies, they get mass exposure. Which introduces many new and younger people to them, as was the case when Bowie died. So, there is some good in it. 

[Jaxsie (Inactive) 1,343]

There is a saying to give a person their flowers while their alive. But, unfortunately, people tend not to fully appreciate another person until they are no longer with them. Humans take things for granted and when they are taken away, we feel the need to make up for lost time. I think this is very much the case in celebrating a person's life after their passing. That being said, I still think that it is a nice gesture -- especially if dues were already given to the person before they passed. It's interesting how the people that did the most wrong to a person, will often be the loudest person when they pass. It's the same situation.

[EpicEnergy 23,247]

I don't see nothing wrong with celebrating someone's life after they die.

[Splashee 28,599]

It is a way for the people left behind to cope with a loss. I believe that it is more difficult for the ones left alive to deal with losing someone, than what I believe death does to a person.