Is this country completely crackers?

Richard III has been reburied amid much ado (and cost) following his impromptu exhumation from underneath a car park.

Now, whilst I would fully expect a King (or Queen, or similar) dying today to have a significant funeral, it strikes me that today's events are somewhat odd.

To be blunt, if I were to be approached and told that my grandmother had been exhumed, I would be the first to push for a suitable funeral - - - if it was my great, great, great, great, great grandmother of 500 years ago...... well, I would reckon that I would care little (if at all) and would even go as far as to suggest that any reburial of the skeleton remaining would be sufficient.

We live in a time where people cannot afford to house themselves, and where people struggle for the very basics in life - - - yet, we can afford to spend a shed-load of money on reburying some bones of a man that died 500 years ago??? What also seems odd to me is the turnout of people 'to pay their respects to'......... a bloke they never knew and know little of.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for paying respect to those that have passed - but how would it look if I rocked up at your grannies funeral, just for the sake of it?

 

I agree it does seem a waste of money and a very odd thing to do, I wonder who pays?, I suppose it's us tax payers

 

It seems to be closely related to the University of Leicester, however I doubt they will be footing the bill. As he was/is (technically) royal, then would it perhaps be the Crown that foots the bill? Having said that, I still reckon it is you and I that are paying for it.

 

I take it Richard III didn't have Life Insurance???..........He obviously hadn't watched the Michael Parkinson adverts.

 

Well, old Bill Shakespeare thought he was significant in English History whether he was a villain or a misunderstood King.

What do I fear? Myself? There’s none else by.
Richard loves Richard; that is, I and I.
Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am.
Then fly! What, from myself? Great reason why:
Lest I revenge. What, myself upon myself?
Alack, I love myself. Wherefore? For any good
That I myself have done unto myself?
O, no! Alas, I rather hate myself
For hateful deeds committed by myself.
I am a villain. Yet I lie. I am not.
Fool, of thyself speak well. Fool, do not flatter:
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.
Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree;
Murder, stern murder, in the direst degree;
All several sins, all used in each degree,
Throng to the bar, crying all, “Guilty! guilty!”
I shall despair. There is no creature loves me,
And if I die no soul will pity me.
And wherefore should they, since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself?”

 

I don't think you have to even read between the lines, GG, as the people of Leicester have been saying openly that it's a really good long term tourist attraction bringing money for local business. And, if you'll pardon the Pun, it's a Godsend to the Church.

 

Apparently the total cost was around £2.5 million. The majority of it was raised by an appeal and over half of it was used by the Cathedral in a revamp and the staging of events.

It has pulled in a lot of tourists from around the world and the events are still going on. You can always pop up there as the week long series of events continue until Saturday evening.

Leicester has already made more money out of the additional tourism than was paid out.

Would I have contributed towards the fund? Not on you Nelly!!!

Reburial of people that died in war is a fairly common occurrence and some of them do have big ceremonies. It seems as though there will be a big ceremonial event for Cervantes who's remains have recently been discovered.