Blog 6

In this episode of South Park the mention of death was taboo. This can relate to the way Americans react and are afraid of death compared to other cultures around the world. In many other cultures including most religions based in India, death is embraced and celebrated much like a birth or a marriage would be. Americans avoid talking about death even to the people they are most close to including family members. In this South Park episode, role models for the children including parents, educators, advisors, and even religious figures turned a blind eye on their questions about death. Death in American culture in general is symbolized by a scary, frightening figure of the Grim Reaper. In Jainism religion/culture, death is symbolized by beauty and is a source of rebirth. They are more accepting to death than the American culture. Through their ways, they even can commit suicide to become one with everything and to end their suffering of being reincarnated. When a Renunciate knows his death is near he can purposely perform Sullenkna, the act of fasting until death. People gather all around him to witness and to celebrate his death and the end of his many lifetimes of suffering. On the opposite end, Americans avoid situations of suicide and try and prevent suicide from happening just like the little boy in South Park was reluctant to assist his grandfathers suicide. Americans avoid all situations of death and during a funeral there is more of a sense of morning than a sense of celebration.