Seriously?

This story kind of ticks me off, because — honestly— who does it offend? We’re not talking about a marker at Arlington cemetery, this is just a regular graveyard in Ohio. Considering how many negative impressions children have about death, funerals, and cemeteries, plus the  popularity of zombies in media right now (and don’t send hate mail- I love me some Walking Dead), doesn’t it seem like a good idea to do anything that might abate some of the fears attached to cemeteries for children? If the concern is how it affects people, then maybe we should rethink all the naked-child/cherub statues and weeping angels (which any Dr Who fan can tell you is now ultra creepy to see anywhere)! I would think as a child, seeing a pleasant image like Spongebob during an event as sad as a funeral, would be comforting instead of… hell, I don’t even know— what is the complaint? If the family doesn’t find it disrespectful, then who are we to say it is for them? I’m annoyed that society feels it can tell a family they can’t have a cartoon headstone for their murdered child, but it doesn’t do anything to the parents of a boy that illegally gets on a plane and flies to another state after he just rammed a stolen truck into a police car! Sorry— tangent.

Here’s a pic of the headstone, courtesy of Cartoon Brew, where you can also read more about this. Look at the friendly smile… offensive, isn’t it? Nay verily.

I think it’s just other people operating from a stand point of jealousy, but then most reactions humans have to something are either out of that… or fear. If Spongebob can help one kid with the fear thing, isn’t that reason enough to keep it? Not to mention the rights of the family to celebrate the life of their daughter as they want to. I’m not condoning statues of people being slaughtered (although the Romans covered that), or people having sex (I think they did that one too). Seriously, it’s friggin Sponge Bob people. Get a grip.

Either way, speaking as part of a family that spent a similar amount on the marker of my own father back in 92, I’d be pissed as hell to be told I couldn’t celebrate his life the way I wanted.  A monument is supposed to mark, celebrate, and remember the life of the person it’s for. When my father passed, I wanted to shout at the world, and remind them of what he had accomplished in his life, but we thought this pretty much covered it.

Miss you Dad.