This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
Published on October 3, 2019, by Scheaffer Okore, a thought-provoking article challenges the notion of 'respect' for the dead, particularly when it comes to individuals who have caused harm and violence during their lifetime.
The author recounts a personal experience of a neighbour's son, a notorious armed robber, who was eulogized as a 'God-fearing human' despite his violent past. This raises questions about the cultural and religious beliefs that dictate how we handle death and the afterlife.
The author argues that when we use 'respect for the dead' as a way to erase the truth about someone's past, we are being 'dangerously harmful' to those who were affected by their actions. This moral flaw is further exacerbated when political leaders who have caused harm are remembered selectively and revered after their death.
The article concludes by emphasizing the need to interrogate our cultural and religious beliefs and to prioritize respect for the living. The author argues that if we want to be remembered as good people, we must choose to live good lives that honour others.
