Quo Vadis (2008)

Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero, commonly known as Quo Vadis, is a historical novel written by Henryk Sienkiewicz. This is a rare volume which I have had in my library and sold pertains to the reign of Nero. Nero was adopted by his great uncle Claudius to become heir to the throne. He was the fifth and final Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. His chief thrill was the torture of Christians. The first book pertaining to such psychosis as the neurology shown by Nero and other emperors such as Heron the Great was published in 1853 by Friedrich Wieck. All men famous and not famous, old and young have died, and so will we all. The scripture clearly states "it is appointed to man wants to die". Quo Vadis means "where are you going"?

It is interesting to have observed the treatment of death in many areas of the world. I have crossed the nation of India by train and was amazed that dead human beings, wrapped in whatever was available were laying on the platforms at each train stop. Some member of the family would get the body on the top of the train and proceed to the Ganges where bodies were cremated along the Ganges at all times. I have been on a boat in the Ganges and watched the cremations going on both banks constantly. Then the ashes were put into the river as the Hindu method of final life. On an expedition to the Arctic I found that they would place their dead on an ice float and just let the island of ice float into the ocean for the animals to dispose of. Likewise, in most African countries particularly in Kenya where the Maasai tribes maintain that making any type of hole in the ground is against there religion. The dead are placed in the bush areas for disposal by wild animals. In the Himalayas you often saw white sheets of flags flying on poles and this was an indication of death in that family or community. Near Rangoon Burma, I attended a funeral process for a dead Buddhist monk. I did not understand much of the chanting, gongs and other activity but it seemed to have been a memorial nightmare. On my trips to both the Arctic and Antarctic, where churches were available always, without exception, there was a small building next to the church where the dead were housed until enough thawing could take place, usually one month in the year when a grave could be dug in the ground. On my trip to the Island of Madagascar, an island off the east coast of Africa, I was stunned to find that during the dry winter months (June to September), famadihana ceremonies take place among Madagascar's Merino and Betsileo people. The corpses of the razana (ancestors) are removed from their tombs, cleaned and wrapped in a new shroud before becoming guests of honor at a party that may last several days. This, it is hoped, will keep the powerful ancestors happy so that they will intervene positively in the earthly life of the family. Perhaps the most remote areas of the world particularly in Africa is to Dugong country in Mali. It was one of the most horrendous trips of my lifetime. These ancient tribes live in a tremendous valley and are isolated from the civilized world. But, my guide, did get me up on a ledge where I could witness with my shadowed vision at that time see them bringing their dead to the top of the valley where vultures would dispose of the remains in much the same way that some tribes in India still dispose of their dead.

One of the most spectacular cemeteries in the world is the Chinese cemetery in the city of Manila in the Philippines, where individual memorial houses are built which not only contain the tombs of the dead but have accommodations for long visits. Also at this cemetery, every Sunday and on All Saints Day (November 1) the Chinese come to honor the dead and is a time for lavish feasts and games where the dead are acknowledged.  In Buenos Aries Argentina, as in New Orleans, where the water levels are so high the dead are always buried in above ground mausoleums. Of course during the recent Katrina episode in New Orleans, many, particularly the poor and veterans where buried in graves already filled with water. One reporter actually had the broadcast of the casket as it splashed into the water grave. Of course, in many places, in times of flood caskets will come out of the ground and we all remember the many caskets floating down the Mississippi during the recent Mississippi flood. A surprising fact of communist Chinese life is that after the revolution all tombstones and markers were beaten up in order to build highways. There are no cemeteries on the Chinese mainland now, each Chinese commune has its own crematory.

I have a radio that reads the newspapers and I have noticed that in the obituaries in recent years more and more families are choosing cremation, supposedly because it is cheaper. The bible is silent on cremation. I have chosen cremation because I find the outrageous charges made by funeral homes so offensive and I do not want to give any of my family who have avoided me in life the opportunity to pay any last respects in death. I have lived in my present house since it was built 50 years ago but I have only had visits from very few relatives. My two brothers have never been in my house and my only child perhaps three times. My only sister has only been in my house perhaps three times and never since she learned 25 years ago that I was not leaving her wealthy well educated children any money. It does not take a person of wealth very long to realize that as they get older family and friends are not at all interested in their personal abilities or accomplishments but only interested in what is left behind for them to enjoy after death. One elderly neighbor, a wonderful man from a prominent New England family, graduate of Williams College, died about 10 o'clock in the evening. One hour later, I'm sure the funeral home did not have him embalmed yet, his relatives were in his house fighting over his possessions, running out the doors carrying items which they were sure would increase their notoriety in the community. I heard Dr. Dobson, on his program, state that 85% of all elderly persons in nursing homes never have a visitor.

In the American experience, next to slavery the greatest shame of this nation is its treatment of disabled veterans and handicapped citizens. As a 100% disabled service connected, totally blind veteran I know the life of a handicapped citizen. But, I want you readers to understand that we all age at the same rate and that although you may feel very young and healthy you too can become disabled and if you are blessed will become older. You may go to hell like so many have already done, singing Sinatra’s favorite song, “(I Did It) My Way”. The most important decision you will ever make in your life is determining your relationship with God through the sacrifice of his only son Jesus Christ who died for your salvation. I have never met anyone yet who thought they were going to die. The difference in a human being and that of a lower animal is that the lower animal does not know he is going to die. Every cemetery, every tombstone, every casket from the casket maker attest to a certain death. The soul does not have mass or weight, but the body has parts that can be transplanted to another person. But, the soul is you and it will survive embalming and the grave. The human body after death is only worth about 57 cents from its chemical composition. The soul is immortal and will live forever.

My first cadaver in Gross Anatomy was a very handsome black male with beautiful white hair. As his body was slowly excised and studied by students the thought kept occurring to me we are studying this dead man who probably had a remarkable life, in order that we might improve the lives of other people. His body and the knowledge gained from his body, the many good works he may have done while alive is important but his soul is the most important matter you can consider while still alive. Quo Vadis, it does not end at the cemetery.