A whale which died off the coast of Vietnam has been honoured in what is essentially a funeral service. Can you imagine being asked to act as a pallbearer? Read the story.
HANOI, VIETNAM—Thousands of Vietnamese fishermen are giving a royal send-off to a 13.6-tonne dead whale, gathering at a southern Vietnamese village to pay homage at a funeral for the creature they call “Your Excellency.” Nearly 10,000 people have converged in Bac Lieu province to bid farewell to the 16-metre whale since he was dragged ashore Monday, said coast guard official Do Tien Ha.
They burned incense in his honour and planned to build a temple at the site of his burial, which was scheduled for Tuesday. Nearly 3,000 people will attend the whale’s last rites, to be held at the mouth of the Cai Cung River. In Vietnam’s fishing culture, whales are considered sacred. They are referred to by the title “ngai,” the same honorific used for kings, emperors and other esteemed leaders.
Ten thousand mourners! I have never done a funeral for any human that numbered more than four or five hundred in attendance. I have been asked to say a few words over a deceased family pet on occasion, and we do bless animals on the Feast of St. Francis each year. But full-fledged Fido finales (shameless alliteration)?
Some Christians would, well, roll over in their graves at the thought of a religious send-off for any critter other than a human. What do you think of this story? Do you wonder if our environment would be in better shape if we honoured animals other than humans? Or is this just silly?
Our environment would be in much better shape if humans didn't think they have power over everything. I don't see too much difference in the mass of people mourning the whale, then the mass of people who mourned Michael Jackson.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Laurie. We need to see ourselves as part of this place, not just masters of it.
ReplyDeleteMy little dog Toto is growing dimer, and we will mourn her like any other family member, the major difference being that we will have to decide when and how she dies. We won't be having a funeral, but I am quite sure there will be at least a few days of holding her up in our hearts. In light of that I don't think it's silly to honour an animal.
ReplyDeleteI think if I were given the choice between attending Jackson's memorial and that for the whale, the whale would take the day.
ReplyDeleteI've had lots of funerals lately, but there would be time for a doggone family friend.
Thanks.