No respect for the dead. What changed?

[LVSteve]

I've never heard of stopping on the road when traveling in the opposite direction of the funeral procession. Doesn't even make sense to me. Stopping to let the entire procession make a turn in front of you or cross an intersection? Absolutely.

I'm in this camp. Throw in the general pace of life these days and I suspect most would say the same if asked.

 

[BobC357]

We lost respect for the dead when society lost respect for the living. Courtesy is gone. Respect is gone. Consideration is gone. Politeness is gone. We live in a Me! Me! Me! world now and the rest of society be damned. This is why schools are failing. This is why violence continues. This is why family values are history. Sadly, this is the direction these parents ARE teaching their children.

 

[Mcwsky09]

I've never heard of stopping on the road when traveling in the opposite direction of the funeral procession. Doesn't even make sense to me. Stopping to let the entire procession make a turn in front of you or cross an intersection? Absolutely.

Same here

I was in a procession once where the limo with the closest family members was stopped by the police. Don't know if ever heard the reason why and been so long I don't quite recall but thinking it must have been after the funeral not during the procession.
I was altar boy and served on a number of funerals and don't recall ever seeing cars stop or anyone getting out of their cars during a pro session and I have been involved with a number where 30+ cars were involved in some cases the home didn't have enough magnetic flags for all the cars.
Yes the procession has the right of way and I would never do anything to interfere with the procession or pass on the shoulder etc. but at the same time I don't feel any compulsion to show some outward respect for someone simply because they are dead. If I have no connection to the person then it really just doesn't matter to me. Which is not to say I would show then any disrespect. Which is not to say I am heartless or lack sympathy but it is sort of like the difference between respecting the office of the POTUS while not respecting the current resident, although that may be overstating it given the current resident. Just saying that I will grant every vehicle in a funeral procession with no less courtesy than I would any other on the road and that I would grant the procession as a whole along with all the component members of that procession with any additional consideration necessary to show lev of respect for the integrity or dignity etc of the procession without any specific regard for the deceased individual who I don't know from Adam.
There are things like serving your country that earn respect whether or not I personally know you so I am not saying that I am indifferent to anyone unknown to me.
I don't think I am really expressing quite how I feel so forgives any off this sounds rude etc.
I don't know about common courtesy in general but I suspect it has more to do with an increase in self absorbtion and lack of acknowledgment or consideration that everyone else on the road also wants to get where they are going. And it doesn't have to be a high percentage of folks acting that way to make it seem like it is rampant only 10% or so of drivers acting so selfishly that they increase the general danger level of driving for all of us is all it takes.
I have notice since I started driving about 30 years ago that there seems to be more people on the road at all hours of the day than there used to be. There were times in high school where I was driving home arond midnight and might see one or two other cars in 30 miles. Now at the same time I can't see a mile in any direction that is empty and even at 2 am etc coming home from the airport for example has many cars on the road. Not sure if that is a factor of population density of if peoples' lives have become muh more hectic since I was a teen.

 

[GreyOwl]

Two instances from my recent past, during the procession of my Brother's funeral along the highway, a rural resident was mowing his yard. He stopped mowing and held his hat over his heart while the entire procession passed. The other was for an uncle, and a young lady tried to pass and jump in line at an intersection. The escort waved her out of line and made her wait for the full procession to pass before he let her continue. Both made me feel good.

 

[redneckemt]

While I understand pulling over. I think its high time we outlaw the practice of stopping for the entire funeral. The Hearse the Family in two -three cars and then another Cop Car. These mile long (or longer) lines of cars are beyond stupid.

Anybody that disagrees with me want to try to drive an ambulance down a 2 Lane Country road, lights and siren going only have to try and pass a funeral. It s a nightmare

 

[rojodiablo]

Maybe in a small rural town, this would be ok.

I live only 1/2 mile from a large cemetery, and it services a lot of the area of Orange County just below Los Angeles.
If I pulled over for every funeral procession??? I'd never get home. And, yes, they have to run funerals whenever they have the time and scheduling. I understand that. But when you are talking 200 cars, you are talking a jam-up that lasts 3 or 4 streets, and our streets are HIGH TRAFFIC volume.

I'm sorry if people are tush-hurt when I don't bother to yield to their procession. But lest's be real here: This planet has some odd 7 BILLION people on it. We are not stopping for every person who passes on. It's just the nature of the area you are in.

When I die and am done? I'll be cremated, and they can take a leisurely boat ride out to open water, so I won't be a traffic nightmare for everyone else to endure. Cast my ashes, have a beer, and go fishing. I'm done, get the farewell party started, and enjoy the life you have left.

This said; I do make a point of getting out of the way of a funeral procession in a quiet place, a small town, etc. If there is room to move over and wait it out or step out of the way?? I will do that, for both them, and me. Just don't expect it on Beach Blvd. on a Saturday morning at 10 am. Not going to work out like that......

 

[Stonecove]

I think it's just a symptom of our increasing population. People get more callous as the population gets denser and western Washington seems to be filling up awfully fast.

Have to disagree with you. Culture is the issue. Have you ever been to Japan or Hong Kong? Densely populated and very respectful. The issue is parents & schools do not teach respect here anymore. Sad.
Stonecove

 

[cass]

Living in a rural area, stopping and getting out of the car is very common - just respectful. It's the way we were taught. You invariably see those people that are too busy, or in a hurry, or just too obsessed with their own little world to be bothered with respect. Those are the ones I pity.

 

[JJEH]

No respect anymore these days

Tomb Guards Reprimanding Visitors ? Arlington Cemetery (2012 Compilation) - YouTube