What we were TAUGHT is acceptable in this society???


Whoa, hold on there ... because so much of what the deliciously departed spewed was, at one time, what was taught as acceptable in this society.


Furthermore, I don't feel the manners-based motto of 'Don't Speak Ill of the Dead' was ever applicable to public figures.

If a person chooses to live their lives in such a way- and in such a public way- then I have no problem taking issue with them after they're gone. They may be dead, but the hate and vitriol they spread is still hanging around.

To paraphrase Aunt Pearl Burras (of Greater Tuna)

“I said I’d sing over your dead body, and Jesse, I feel a song coming on!”

To paraphrase MP, bye bye dum dum.

I'm sure he had his good points somewhere, I feel sad for his family since they were the one's who saw his humane side. I never did, I only saw the public figure.

As a public figure, he was reprehensible and had so many bad qualities and beliefs he was more than proud to display and venom to spew forth. I did not and do not miss him in the public forum, in fact, I had not given him a thought in years. I hope he can make his peace with the universe and next time he comes back for another round, he's learned something and will be better behaved next time.

Agreed.

We need a poll

Would that be a poll-dance? Har har har.

I'm not ever sure I was "taught" that grave dancing is a bad thing. I DO know I was taught that gay people are sinners and black people are not to be trusted. As a result of my teachings, I have chosen to think for myself and, if I see reprehensible behavior - past of present - of a person either living or dead, I have no qualms about speaking out about it. Lest we forget.

Why are you getting mad at me? I'm not in any way defending him or his life... just the opinions of those who are uncomfortable with the concept of grave dancing. And then in the next breath, I laid out why it may be warranted in this case. I even invoked Godwin's Law with a subtle comparison to Hitler for crying out loud!

It's what he's good at ;)

I don't think remembering the horrible things he said, did and believed and hoping that a part of the spreading of those beliefs is the same thing as grave dancing.

The man did and said horrible things. I truly hope that a part of this country's hate machine died with him. But I am certainly not going to go "woohoo! someone died, let's party!"

I don't see bin Laden and Helms as the same. But until we catch bin Laden I can't say how I will react. I don't recall grave dancing when Saddam was executed.