Gadaffi - In Iceland?

Gadaffi in Iceland?

Upon looking through the new sites to see what was occurring in the world, I scoured the social networks, to see if anything interesting was happening to the people I know - which almost never is. I came across a status saying ‘Gadaffi’s body in on show in a freezer In a shop”. I try to keep away from political news as much as possible, as it usually depresses, yet this I just had to research. Human curiosity, killed the cat, yeah?

It seems that this is infact a true story, much to my horror. Libyan ex-autocratic ruler, was on display in a commercial freezer as “Libyan authorities argued about what to do with his remains and questions deepened over official accounts of the long time dictators death”. (The Times of India) It seems that this delay came because fighters from Misrata (a city brutally besieged by Gadaffi’s people during the Civil War) had laid claim to his body, which ruined the scheduled plans of a burial on Friday.

So, in Misrate where the body is on show, which was allegedly an initial attempt to keep it out of the public eye, until the masses became aware of the location and so was put on display. What bother me most about this charade and I’d like to point out, I’m not defending him as a person, but no dead body should be paraded. There are families lined up to take photos with him, separated visiting hours are allowed for select people. Now, I understand the term redemption and the need for it, however I could almost see a tacky portable fair with a Ferris Wheel and five bucks for a “viewing and candy floss with the dictator”, and that thought makes me feel sick. Let him be.

Another example of this, though ever so very different is Michael Jackson. I mention him as he is still currently in the news for other reasons. His funeral is the reason I highlighted his name here. For it was not only shown on TV, it was made into a Prime Time TV show, almost like a musical, as Singin in the Rain. Hosting performances from the biggest musical acts, riveting speeches from celebrities who many may or may not have met the King of Pop before. The Golden Casket was on show for the stars on the stage, those lucky enough to be in attendance and for the whole world to view. Why? Do we really need to see where a man who most of us never had the chance to know is lying there, just because he has made some albums, that a lot of people bought. Yes, I love Michael Jackson, I would consider Bad, to be one of my favourite albums, and believed him to be a lovely man, I still don’t need to see his funeral, I wasn’t invited, so why am I being invited via my TV. Reluctantly I watched, as I was a fan. My real problem with this, apart from the fact it had me teary-eyed when I witnessed his children crying during their emotional-yet-scripted speech to all. The fact the money was being made is my problem, he was being promoted on the day we were meant to celebrate his life, it all felt a little too showbiz to me. And, I’m the first to understand the Michael lead a showbiz life, but sometimes tradition is better left unhampered.