Aberzombie wrote:
I try to respect the dead, even if I disagreed with the person or didn't like them. I might not always succeed, as in a case of some truly evil POS. I try not to crow about it, however. Seems to me that would make me no better than those a*&~@$#s in the Westboro Baptist Church.
Someone who didn't deserve respect while alive doesn't somehow magically deserve it after they're dead in my view.
I might refrain from criticizing them after they're dead if to do so would be pointless.
And I might refrain out of respect or concern for their family's feelings, but if a person is particularly despicable I doubt their families are much better.
And in many cases criticizing them after they're dead is not pointless, particularly if their views or policies continue to influence us.
So after my smelly neighbor dies I have no need or desire to talk about how smelly he was, but if my neighbor was a lawmaker or Supreme Court Justice whose work I believe is still hurting our country, then I certainly will continue to criticize.
And yes, I think people in the public eye should be more open to criticism whether alive or dead. Particularly when talking about the elected leaders in a free society. And I include the officials appointed by our elected leaders in this group.
