Pacific Island Times Vol 3 No 6 June 2019 | Page 6

Insights
rom the
comment box
Mulch me, please!
S
ometimes the internet, as does
life, works in mysterious ways.
Recently and out of the blue and
unrequested by me, one of my long-
ago hometown newspapers began to
email me weekly summaries of local
obituaries.
As someone who has been forced
to scramble to keep up with the
ever-changing business modes and
moods of our digital
age, I tried but failed to
figure out any commer-
cial purpose behind this
move. Granted, I look in
on paper’s website from
time to time, but the
answer to my question
eluded me. And even
as I write, my phone
alerts me to yet another
obit edition. Nobody I
know died last week. I
checked.
But it usually gets
down to money and I’ve
been living more than
7,000 miles away for
many decades, making me or my fam-
ily unlikely customers for undertaking
services in Wisconsin, or whatever
politically correct title funeral homes
apply to what they do these days.
Unlike, I used to think, the majority
of Americans who have been condi-
tioned to open up their wallets without
question to plant their loved one in a
fancy box, I grew up in a family that
was pretty skeptical about this prac-
tice, both regarding cost and good
taste.
I have distinct memories of the first
truly fancy funeral I ever attended, at
least by small town American stan-
dards. My paternal grandmother went
out in style and to my young eye,
probably considerable expense. Given
a few overheard conversations be-
tween mom and dad, they didn’t much
approve but were on the hook for a
chunk of this display which had been
6
arranged by a pretty high-handed aunt.
Over the years I heard the folks
complain about the waste of space tak-
en up by cemeteries and later discov-
ered and read Evelyn Waugh’s hilari-
ous novel on the subject, “The Loved
One,” and also saw the 1965 movie
with, among others, Robert Morse and
Jonathan Winters. Those who know
will note that the screenplay was by
the long gone but truly
lamented Terry Southern.
So let’s say that as age
has been creeping up on
me, I’ve been aware that
some decision will have
to be made about how
to handle my eventual
demise, though I’m not
looking for anything
that involves a mar-
ble-trimmed walnut box.
While living on
Saipan, some friends
carried out several funer-
als at sea, in which the
loved one was encased
in a weighted body bag, loaded on a
fishing charter boat and taken out to
sea for a trip down to the Marianas
Trench. This of course required copi-
ous provisions containing alcohol. By
accounts I heard, a good time was had
by all the survivors.
Cremation was the choice of my
parents and I know where to find
them, on a hillside in the country,
beneath modest stones provided by the
Veterans Administration marking their
World War II service. Money wasn’t
the issue for them, but they had no
taste for ostentation.
We’re often told that public tastes
are changing in this area and the
Washington Post recently alerted me
to another option with a headline
about Washington State: “Washing-
ton passes bill to become first state to
compost human bodies.”
“We’re making about a cubic yard
of soil per person,” the founder of the
company Recompose said,” accord-
ing to the Post. The company also
makes arguments about saving energy,
expense and even making a dent in
global warming. This bill is as yet
unsigned by the state governor, but
though unlike my father, I’ve never
been much of a gardener, it sounds
pretty appealing.
As the 1662 version of the “Book of
Common Prayer” tells us in its version
of the burial service:
“Then, while the earth shall be cast
upon the Body by some standing by,
the Priest shall say,
“Forasmuch as it hath pleased
Almighty God of his great mercy to
take unto himself the soul of our dear
brother here departed, we therefore
commit his body to the ground; earth
to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in
sure and certain hope of the Resurrec-
tion to eternal life.”
I’m even willing to sustain a cucum-
ber in your garden. Or a rose.
We’re often told that public tastes
are changing in this area and the
Washington Post recently alerted me to
another option with a headline about
Washington State: “Washington passes
bill to become first state to compost
human bodies.”
FAS citizens make
up 11 percent of
Guam population
One and a half of this population
from Kosrae, like me and every
Kosraean, are here to better
ourselves in the USA.
— Palikkun Nena
Potential sex
offenders may face
chemical castration
Only if there is absolute proof
that the person did the crime. Not
this “believe anyone and everyone”
and MeToo assassinations business.

— Raul Montes
Sen. San Agustin’s
bill to decrease
minimum wage
$15 minimum wage increase.
Less than $10 will be an insult.
—Songge Guam
Self-determination
in New Caledonia:
Unchartered waters
ahead
Looks like the tide is turning
soon. — Cyrprian Mugunbey
World War II not forgotten in Yap
Protect those assets! Do not allow
visitors to overrun your island.
Employ sustainability and you’ll
have these assets for many more
generations to enjoy.
— Kurt Burkhart
Military second
thoughts on buildup
Something like a party that the
majority are looking forward to
and got cancelled. With all the
negative attitude and motives
excelled within, who would want to
live here? A disgruntled element is
within our border and their motives
don’t seem peachy at all. Liberation
Day festivities is in the horizon. Let
us not forget the historical values
and importance.
— Joe Rosario Mesa