The De-industrialization of Burial Rituals

In the heart of New York City’s Ground Zero Memorial, amidst the towers of steel and glass and the granite fountains of mourning reflection, the last surviving tree pulled from the rubble of that fateful September day stands tall, though burnt and mangled, as a living testament to life’s resilience. The prominent symbolic inclusion of life seems to be a deliberate dialectical juxtaposition to the lifelessness of industrialized memorials constructed of cut stone, concrete, steel, and glass. In order to appease the outcries of "never forget!" the industrialized memorials falsely promise eternal remembrance by means of symbolically constructed and arranged non-living materials; and yet, inscriptions set in stone will erode to dust as the memories fade from the consciousness of the living. Sustainable resolution of any conflict requires an immortalization of remembrance that can only be achieved through the cultural and, perhaps, religious sanctification of living memorials. The living memorial has the ability, if properly maintained, to grow alongside society’s cultural memory; ideally, the living memorial should grow and strengthen with each passing generation.

The so-called “Survivor Tree” is essentially a living grave marker for those who have perished from the collapse of the Twin Towers. Living grave markers, such as a tree, add a new dimension to the sacredness of life; the sanctifying of a living grave marker bestows on it the same psychological and cultural protections afforded other gravesites. The living grave markers will be afforded greater legal and customary protection than other non-sanctified life forms. If multiples of these living grave sites are organized and recognized as a new living graveyard, then entire forests of the dead could be sanctified; sanctifying forests would protect them from logging and other forms of deforestation. If the new living grave markers were hardwoods, such as oaks and redwoods, then sanctified forests could provide adequate protection for the hardwoods’ extensive maturation period. This point might prove critical for the reforestation of these great hardwoods which are prized for the quality of wood. Harvesting great hardwoods is not sustainable, because of their extensive maturation period which in some cases, such as sequoia, redwood, and oak, can take centuries.

Personally, I think that I will make it my last wish to have a great oak tree planted over my biodegradable coffin so that my body’s decomposition can foster a new life. I hope my family would also choose to be buried alongside of me so that our decedents can marvel and cherish our living family tree. If only a billion others would observe a similar burial ritual, then the great forests could once again inspire awe, wonder, and humility.