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Peter - that's precisely what concerns me:  what we engage in is  
rationalization.  For instance, if the assertion that human remains  
are only of meaning to the living, isn't the inference that if those  
remains have no meaning to me, I have no obligation to respect them?   
Which, of course, is part of what led to their cavalier treatment in  
earlier times.  So called primitives, such as the Egypitans were  
inferior to Victorians - so, who cares?  And not treating these  
remains with regard to the context of when they were living beings,  
seems, at least on some level, disingenuous.  If its not ok to dig up  
my grandfather, what about my great-grandfather, or my great-great?

I remember in Dallas a few years back, during expansion of a highway,  
a graveyard was discovered.  I don't remember the details, but these  
were lost humans - there were no markings and no existing records to  
tell us who was buried - yet there was collective agreement to rebury  
the bones and create a memorial of sorts.  What does that say about  
the notion of no one being alive to identify with these bones?

Contemplation, as you suggest, is a powerful component of the  
experience.  I, for one, would not hesitate to take my two boys to see  
this show - it is an unusual opportunity to talk about meaning.

Jeff Courtman
Museumscapes



On Aug 5, 2010, at 4:06 PM, Peter A Anderson wrote:

> *This message was transferred with a trial version of  
> CommuniGate(tm) Pro*
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology  
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related  
> institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Jonah,
>
> Here's a rationalization of the issue of exhibiting human remains,  
> for your contemplation:
>
> 1.  Human remains mean nothing to the dead - only to the living.
>
> 2.  If there's no-one alive who identifies themselves with a  
> specific human remain, no-one can be diminished by exhibiting it.
>
> 3.  The contemplation of rituals surrounding human remains is a  
> powerful thought-provoking and learning experience for most people.
>
> Peter Anderson
>
> -- 
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