08/09/2024
FUNERAL CEREMONIES HAVE BECOME POLITICAL RALLIES.
By Jima Mataar Marial
During the days of our grandfathers and great grand fathers, funeral ceremonies were considered delicate periods. They were organized to calm down the families of the deceased. As known to all the communities that those who lost their beloved may think of revenge if the person was killed by someone or think of commiting su***de if he died of pestilence or natural death.
Most of them cried out all the tears until nothing was left in their skulls. Some went days without eating or drinking, mourning for their beloved ones. Others were overshadowed by hopelessness, gloominess and darkness brought by their greatest lost. They only thought of taking their lives to the graves with their beloveds.
Young men would ganged themselves up and plan vengeance. If not restrained, they would eventually succeed and brought great wars to the communities involved. It was because of these reasons that funeral rites were organized to settle down the deceased families.
Elders would come to the bereaved families and gave them hope and comfort. They brought to the attention of the deceased families that there's life ahead of them. And that they shouldn't bring great calamity to their families because of their lost. The deceased historical background: his family background,his achievements, and the cause of his death were brought to light.
Elders would talk of marrying him a wife if he died childless or unmarried. The deceased families would then get some comfort. Their lost was filled with words of encouragement. Young men were advised by elders with sense of awareness that vengeance would worsened the situation. Compensatory procedures were taken as alternatives. Cows would then be brought as compensation and deceased's marriage would be conducted.
Funeral rite was a mixed of wailings and encouragements; a mixed of mournings and comforts. The deceased families would then felt that their lost was filled. They would take courage and thought of the future life. Religious leaders prayed and preached the biblical verses that would bring strength to the deceased families. The bereaved were showered with care, attention and comfort.
Chickens, goats, cows and food stuffs were brought as support to these families. It was done to improve their standard of living. Even eating anyhow in these ceremonies was rare.
But today funeral ceremonies have become different rites. When people die, some people take it as an opportunity to eat, drink and speak out their nonsense. Elders, who instead of bringing comfort to the deceased families, take it as an opportunity to beg their targeted officials.
Government officials on the other hand turn it into a debating center. A handful of politicians turn the funeral ceremonies into political rallies. Instead of giving advice and comfort to deceased families, they choose to advertised their political parties. Even religious leaders, who instead of preaching the word of God, put aside their Bibles and monetize the whole ceremonies; preaching about tithes and offerings. Some go to the extend of backing up their beloved government officials, just get a dime in their offering buckets. They forget the major theme of funeral rite: Encouraging the deceased families. Deliberately, they increase the deceased families' lost.
Some politicians, some elders and some religious pastors or bishops sacrifice deceased family's dignity, thinking they may rescue themselves from inevitable political misery. Also the starving young men find it as an opportunity to eat delicious meals and drink the rarest beverages. Some wickedly wish and pray for death to befall some families so that they may gratify themselves.
These young men do not even think of working and hustling for their survival. They keep their ears open to any jeopardy that has befallen some families so that they turn it into a gratification center. And when they get it, they drown themselves in the meat soup and swim in carbonated drinks. They turn the funeral rite into political rally and gratification center. Oh! Curse is he that wishes death on other people!
Moral Lesson:
✓ Family members, who instead of providing medical care, feeding and better living condition to their beloved when they are still alive wait until they are dead so that they organize their funeral ceremonies, are witches. Avoid them like leprosy. If they love him/her, they should have provided for his medical care.
✓ A true politician is known of his political integrity. And any politician who turns the funeral rite into a political rally has little knowledge about politics. He actually needs a political enlightenment. Avoid him and never associate with him. My brother run for your life. Beware of him!
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying politics is bad. I'm simply advising you to know the true politician and the false one. Support only the true politicians.
✓ As an elder, a pastor or a politician, please whenever you go to any funeral service make sure you cuddle and encourage the deceased families. Tell them they have a life ahead of them. Value them and uphold their mental health. And you will be remembered and follow by everyone who love the altruistic people like you.
✓ Humans have some internal fears. Fear of death, fear of denial, fear of rejection, fear of misrepresentation. Managing these fears is our sole responsibility. Make sure you help the deceased families to control these phobias.
Thanks for reading!
💎 JIMMY BOYKA
