Why can't Rosa Park's casket be open?

[questioner]

Thousand's of people are waiting in line to the (possible) casket of Rosa Parks. Why can't they open the casket (to let people see their hero) at these events (like they did with the Pope)? I suspect for security purposes that the caskets (on display at the US Capital) of Ronald Reagan and Rosa Parks were just empty boxes.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't know--but it could have been HER preference. Much like the choice to be cremated or not. Whether or not you will have an Open casket or not. If she didn't want one, it would be disrespectful to her to open it--no matter who wished to see her.

Ronald Reagan's casket wasn't opened either.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Thousand's of people are waiting in line to the (possible) casket of Rosa Parks. Why can't they open the casket (to let people see their hero) at these events (like they did with the Pope)? I suspect for security purposes that the caskets (on display at the US Capital) of Ronald Reagan and Rosa Parks were just empty boxes.

It's a fairly simple concept to understand: treating the deceased with dignity and respect. The Vatican has its own customs when a Pope dies.

 

[hemispheredancer]

Maybe it is the family's wish for a closed casket. Why is it the troll comes out to disrespect people with your quote "possible" casket? To suggest these caskets are empty is unbelievable.

Obviously the people waiting in line have more respect for Ms. Parks than you do with your typical BS.

Wow!! Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed??? The OP asked a legitimate question. One that I have wondered about myself. Have some halloween candy and cheer up

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Wow!! Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed??? The OP asked a legitimate question. One that I have wondered about myself. Have some halloween candy and cheer up

A legitimate question would be to ask why it was not opeend..but OP included a statement, I hadn't actually noticed--to insinuate it was an empty casket.

I wondered why Reagan's wasn't opened...but I didn't go and say it must have been b/c it was empty.

It is possible to ask questions in a "nice" way.

Though--if we are going to answer to the questioner....we better watch it and answer nicely (warning has been posted on another thread already.). It isn't worth getting in trouble over no matter how crazy we think the OP's topics or the twists on topics may be.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I have a feeling that Slick Willie might be gone pretty soon...just a hunch...

 

[Keli]

I would guess this is a choice left up to the family.

 

[inaminute]

I would imagine it was at her request.

All of my family knows my feelings on this. I've always thought the practice of the living gazing at a dead body is gruesome. Closed casket. Period. If people don't see enough of me when I'm living, they don't need to be looking at me when I'm dead.

Since when to we need to see a body in order to pay our respects?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Typically, when someone lies in state (or in Ms. Park's case, lying in honor) in the Capitol, the casket is closed. This is not intended to be a wake or viewing; it is an honor accorded to individuals, therefore, the casket is closed and often covered with the U.S. flag. No law, written rule, or regulation specifies who may lie in state; use of the Rotunda is controlled by concurrent action of the House and Senate. Any person who has rendered distinguished service to the nation may lie in state if the family so wishes and Congress approves. In the case of unknown soldiers, the president or the appropriate branch of the armed forces initiates the action.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I have a feeling that Slick Willie might be gone pretty soon...just a hunch..

No joke -

get a grip. He is just an internet person proposing a topic of discussion.

The thousands of people lined up are there to pay tribute to her life and courage, the fact that the casket isn't open isn't relevant.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I have made my wishes known to my family. I do NOT want an open casket or a viewing. They can put out a picture of me when I was alive and laughing. That is the way I want people to remember me. In fact, I don't even want to be embalmed. I want to go straight to be cremated.

Maybe she felt like I do? I think the living should abide with the wishes of the dead without question.

 

[SueM in MN]

I have made my wishes known to my family. I do NOT want an open casket or a viewing. They can put out a picture of me when I was alive and laughing. That is the way I want people to remember me. In fact, I don't even want to be embalmed. I want to go straight to be cremated.

Maybe she felt like I do? I think the living should abide with the wishes of the dead without question.

My mom feels the same way.
There actually was not a body at my dad's memorial service/funeral. He had donated his body to the University of Wisconsin Medical School for study. Afterwards, his body was cremated and the ashes were delivered to my mom for burial. Sh'e like to do the same thing.

 

[Cruisin]

I think that the OP brings up a very legitimate question.

How do you really know if there is a body in those caskets or not

They could very easily be empty boxes as was suggested.

People do not need the actual body to be present to pay their respects to the person they wish to honor.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

I would imagine it was at her request.

All of my family knows my feelings on this. I've always thought the practice of the living gazing at a dead body is gruesome. Closed casket. Period. If people don't see enough of me when I'm living, they don't need to be looking at me when I'm dead.

Since when to we need to see a body in order to pay our respects?

My personal feelings are for a closed casket.

It seems that every time a person comes to mind that has died, if the last time I saw them was laying in a box at a "viewing", that's the image that comes to mind.

When I'm dead and gone, I don't want other peoples memory of me to be that of seeing me in a box. I'd rather they remember the time I spent living my life.

 

[poohandwendy]

What difference does it make if the casket is closed, open, empty or full of rocks?

The public is owed nothing, this is something that only the family should have any say over or interest in. (JMHO)

 

[MidgeD79]

The casket will be open for viewing in Detroit.

 

[inaminute]

How do you really know if there is a body in those caskets or not

Why do you care? I'm not trying to be difficult, I'd just like to know what difference it makes to you? Did you know Rosa Parks? Were you part of her family?

I don't comprehend why complete strangers would be concerned over something so deeply personal.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I have a feeling that Slick Willie might be gone pretty soon...just a hunch...

Why do you think so?


To the OP: many do closed caskets and they are not empty. It might have been her preference or her families preference.

 

[Cruisin]

Why do you care? I'm not trying to be difficult, I'd just like to know what difference it makes to you? Did you know Rosa Parks? Were you part of her family?

No I did not know the lady personally nor am I part of her family but I wasn't speaking specifically about a certain person, it could be any high profile person.

I don't really care if there is a body in there or not.

It makes absolutely no difference to me.

I'm not being difficult, just curious, if what you see is really what you get in those types of situations.

 

[Cruisin]

To the OP: many do closed caskets and they are not empty. It might have been her preference or her families preference.

I believe that to be true, that in the case of your average person, there is most likely a body in the casket.

But in a high profile situation, is there really a body in the casket?

Someone knows of course but "you" as someone who has come to pay respects do not really know, nor do I believe it really makes a difference.

If the casket is full of a body, rocks or even empty, it is the person's memory that you have come to honor, not their body.