THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE ARTICLE captioned 'No crying at funerals!' written by columnist Devon Dick was very refreshing. The point made by Devon that it is alright to cry and that even Jesus wept is well taken. He also pointed out the benefits of ventilating such emotion as crying. Indeed I support him as psychologically, any pent-up emotion could well have negative effect later on.
My take on the matter, however, is not only that we should cry if we are so moved but it is how we cry. Crying is rooted not only in culture but also in class. Like some Jamaicans, most Middle East people cry openly, loudly and with great gesticulations, to the extent that it almost looks vulgar. Sociology tells me that in times past, some people would even pay others to come and cry at their relative's funeral as an indication or show of how much the deceased was loved in life.
On the other hand, dignitaries and sometimes upper class persons are hardly ever seen to cry openly.
Psychologists speak to grief that can go from denial to postponed or delayed grief to prolonged abnormal grief and sometimes feigned grief as well as normal genuine grief.
As time gets more and more contemporary, patterns and behaviour keep changing. My view therefore, is that it is not so much what you do but how you do it.
I am, etc.,
E. WILLIAMS REITTIE
(Ms.)
Lower C/Spring Gardens
Kingston 10
