While composing the biography of Mr. Bolos, it appeared to me as more of an obituary. As strange as it seems, obituaries have always fascinated me, and I’m sure others can relate. As I browsed http://www.obituaries.com/Obits.asp, I felt oddly happy. It was heartwarming to read about the accomplishments and how meaningful these everyday people were in the lives of others. ‘There really are good people out there’ I thought to myself. And then it hit me. Yes, It’s nice to think that all these people really were great, but that’s just not realistic. I’m sure many had flaws, mean streaks, hidden secrets and crimes. But these people are deceased and it’s morally wrong to acknowledge their wrongdoings, right?
Right. Everyone has flaws. But what about people that surpass flawed, what about people that have committed atrocities, that are inherently evil? For instance, should the obituaries of serial killers focus on their crimes or their life? I googled “Serial killers obituaries” and I clicked on the first entry I found-http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/nyregion/12shawcross.html. While other obituaries detail the life of the deceased, this was almost entirely on the murders and its details. I was split. On one hand, this is a man that coldheartedly killed 11 women. On the other hand, he lived a troubled life and there was more to him than these murders. I concluded that the morally right thing to do is to mention the killings in minor detail but everything included in a “normal” obituary should be included as well. Serial killers are not animals, they are people. And, while acknowledging their wrongdoings, these people deserve obituaries celebrating their lives as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment