Pity the Poor Paleontologist and Anxious Archeologist in 3000 A.D. (A Sequel)

By Jerry J. Brown

Eleven years ago when America's cremation rate hovered at 23.1%, I wrote an article that posed the question: "If people continue to choose cremation in lieu of interment (earth burial), what could ultimately happen to the future of academic and scientific processes involving the tracing, tracking and extrapolations of the origin, evolution and metamorphosing of humankind, vis-à-vis bone/skeletal existence i.e. retort pulverization?"

I must admit that my original article was written mostly in a satirical or tongue-in-cheek vein but with the near certainty that despite my attempt at a tad of humor and a little bit of levity, there would be a fire storm of dissent and antipathy from certain members of CANA, the Memorial Societies and Richter-Scale readings from the owners and operators of crematories galore. Fear of fall-out and prop-wash notwithstanding, I wrote the piece and here we go again.

2nd Verse same song.

The rise of America¹s cremation factor during the past four and a half decades has been mercurial i.e. 3.5 % in 1960 to 23.1% in the 2000's. The reasons, motivations and value judgments vis-à-vis disposition of deceased persons still remain somewhat unclear & theoretical e.g. economic, societal, logistics, environmental, academic, intellectual, religious, cultural, ad infinitum.

So, statistics, theories, figures, facts and intellectual judgments concerning cremation vs. burial notwithstanding, what might happen to the sciences of archeology, anthropology and paleontology if and when there are no bones left to study?!?

The world's museums have relied on bones for eons to trace the evolution of man, mammal, fish and fowl. Carbon, DNA, fossils and dental records aside, we will always need "BONES" to differentiate between Dr. Leaky's 1.2 million year old Hominid, Homo Erectus and the Australopithecus Afarensic of 3 million years ago.

Heaven forbid when the time-worn axioms of "make no bones about it" or, "I've got a bone to pick with you" are no more. Further, consider the World's closets without "at least, a skeleton or two?"

Together - the Only Way to Fly

By Jerry J. Brown

As I look back with an element of editorial analysis, probably one-in-five of my death/life care articles have engaged themes that espouse the axioms of "one-for-all-and-all-for-one" and "the power is in the plurality."

Maybe my tendency to return to the "glory belongs to the group ideology" reflects a relentless belief in "group endeavor" and a coalescence of mind, spirit, academic evaluation and, ultimately, the objective of "advise and consent."

On a cold and rainy day in November of 1863, the ethos and eloquence of Abraham Lincoln described the very essence of coalescence and unanimity when he said, "A government of the people, by the people and for the people"

More than ever before, we must learn to involve, function, consider, commit and carry forth with communal purpose and collegiality if the quintessence of human existence is ever achieved.

Lofty, high sounding words indeed, but consider the following:

Democracy flourishes vis-à-vis the decisions and actions of many.

- Dictatorships are the scourge of people involvement and group action i.e. merely one or at best, a very few.

- America's legal, economic, industrial, health, ecological and moral codes and conditions represent the mosaic and architecture of multitudes.

- And from the global dynamic to our state and local environments; where would Minnesota Funeral service be today if our profession had functioned individually (without MFDA) for the past 119 years?

Ergo, where would the hundreds of Minnesota (and regional) children be today without the cathartic progress and therapeutic miracles created by the kindness, love, understanding and professional guidance of the legions of Camp Amanda (aka Hearts of Hope) leaders and volunteers who continue to commit to their care & healing.

Last Month marked my 50th MFDA Convention and although I was there as a newly inducted member of the "long-in-the-tooth society," I was just as impressed with the values, ethics, programs, objectives, endeavors and above all ITS PEOPLE as I was when I first walked through her hallowed portals in 1958.

So, BRAVO, OLE and A THOUSAND THANKS to the leaders, staff and members of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association for all you do to preserve, protect and enhance the sociological imperatives of the profession.