The Editor, Sir:

Funerals have, over the last few years, become quite a spectacle and funeral parlours seem to be in strong competition against each other to see who can stage the 'bashiest' funeral.

The coffin and mode of transport to the cemetery are a couple of the tools where great creativity is employed to bring off a sending-off to remember. The issue of death has now become more of a celebration and show-off and, sometimes, one wonders if much mourning is taking place.

Is the death of a loved one an opportunity to showcase wealth and affluence?

Mode of dressing

There have been a few features of the modern-day funeral, which may be reason for some concern.

One such feature is the the great likeness of some funerals to dances. The mode of dressing seen at many funerals is hardly appropriate for the settings of a church. There are also those that choose to smoke and drink within the church compound, which shows a lack of respect for the clergy.

These issues must be addressed by the Church and strong and firm rules must be instituted by the clergy to bring back a sense of sanity to the ritual.

Exposure of bodies

A more grave concern on my part, however, is the transportation of bodies along the main thoroughfare in glass chariots, leaving the caskets exposed. This means that one has no choice but to view the body of the dead, whether they want to.

It is, therefore, an infringement of our rights to force such an inappropriate sight on us.

In my opinion, it is no different from two persons having sexual intercourse in the public, which we don't want to see. If we want to see a body, we will find the funeral and go have a look at the dead. Don't make the choice for us.

Having said that, I must implore the Government to - just as they have legislated laws against improper sexual behaviour - implement laws against the indecent exposure of bodies along our streets via see-through coffins and chariots.

Keep a few of us from the nightmares and upset stomach that attend these sights for, although we all know that death is inevitable, there are those of us who would rather not face it indiscriminately.

I am, etc.,

MARK A. CLARKE

makeis@yahoo.com

Seaview Road, Stony Hill PO

Via Go-Jamaica