On December 20, an unbelievable thing happened in Anshan, Liaoning Province: an old man officially held a funeral for himself in the village, and the scene was very mournful and solemn. Just as the host was about to see off the "deceased" according to the ritual process, the old man who held the funeral was driven away by local law enforcement officers on the grounds of disturbing social order, and failed to fulfill his wish to "play with his life".
On the same day, the villagers of Gengzhuang Town, Haicheng City, Anshan, gathered one after another, wanting to see the whole process of this wonderful funeral. I saw a hearse parked at the entrance of the village, with flowers and harnesses in front of the car and a coffin on the ground. The host was dressed in white linen and wearing a white hat, and was presiding over the ceremony in a serious manner, and there were several mourning girls and caregivers standing beside him.
It all started with 55-year-old villager Lao Liu. Lao Liu lives alone at home, has the status of a five-guarantee household, and is not close to his neighbors on weekdays. Because he has always been in good health, Lao Liu recently had a wonderful idea - when he was alive, he would organize a funeral for himself first to feel what the "afterlife" was like. So he found a funeral host, including the coffin, to imitate all the processes of a normal funeral, and let relatives and friends cry to see him off.
Just when the host was carrying out the memorial service step by step, the law enforcement officers of the town government rushed to the scene and demanded that Lao Liu immediately stop holding the funeral on the grounds of disturbing social order. Lao Liu was unwilling to reason with the other party, saying that he had spent money to do things, and there was no violation of law and discipline. But under the forced dispersal of law enforcement officers, this peculiar funeral was helplessly suspended, and Lao Liu's careful wish failed to come true.
This incident sparked heated discussions among netizens, and many people expressed puzzlement about Lao Liu's approach. Experts believe that Lao Liu's move may be out of anxiety about death. As a frail old man with no children and no daughters, Lao Liu may find it difficult to face the future retirement life, and he can't imagine what will happen after him. By "experiencing" the funeral in advance, the insecurity of the elderly can be released to a certain extent.
From a management perspective, Lao Liu's actions are obviously against customs and Xi. But we should also understand the psychological needs of a lonely elderly person from a human perspective. While the relevant departments stop the violations, they should also pay attention to Lao Liu's future life, so that he can spend a dignified old age. Through this case, all sectors of society should also further explore how to better take care of special groups and make them feel the warmth of society.