Politicians should not desecrate the memory of the dead

The observance of All Saints’ Day and the All Souls’ Day should be free from politics. Politicians should have the basic decency to refrain from campaigning inside the cemetery, and in the immediate vicinity of churches, chapels, tombs, and mausoleums. The people should be left alone while in the solemn prayers and ceremonies. There should be no loudspeakers allowed inside memorial parks and public cemeteries. There should be no distribution of campaign materials like sample ballots, leaflets, and streamers. Tarpaulins with the photos and greetings of candidates and incumbent officials should be removed.

Politicians should have a little decency and basic respect for the dead. They should restrain themselves from campaigning on this solemn day. They should leave people alone in prayers and contemplation. They have all the time to do their campaigning and other partisan political activities during the campaign period. Political parties and other groups should avoid disrupting religious activities.

They should behave during the solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist. They should not attend masses in droves and invite attention to unnecessary moves and noises. They should refrain from shaking hands with parishioners going in out of the church.

In the cemetery, politicians should not distribute foods and drinks. They should focus on the graves of their own departed family members, relatives, and friends. They should avoid speaking in loud voices and should respect the solemnity of the place and the occasion. This day is intended for reflection and prayers remembering our dearly departed loved ones. Today is intended for families to reminisce the memories of those close to them who have already gone ahead to the Great Beyond. This is not really a day for merriment and for entertainment. So politicians should avoid bringing wine and alcoholic beverages.

People should not encourage politicians to make the memorial parks and other burial places as venues for singing and dancing. There should be no eating and drinking in the cemeteries. There are plenty of places for such activities. Priests, pastors, imams, and rabbis should not allow people to transform today's solemnity into a ruckus or pandemonium. The administrators of public cemeteries should come up with strict guidelines and protocols to serve as reminders to one and all on the need for silence and serenity.

If they cannot do anything helpful for the living, politicians should at the very least, avoid desecrating the memories of the dead. They should manifest a certain degree of serene dignity. That is the least they could do for just one day, this day.