As for respectful behavior at a funeral, I think it's more a matter of common
decency not to protest or make it into some kind of political opportunity, more
than a strictly moral issue. There might be the moral issue of giving scandal,
however.
I received an e-mail recently about a story I thought might illustrate this most
dramatically, but I can't find the e-mail. However, I have a vague memory of
how it goes, so let's give it a shot, okay?
It's a short story about an airline flight where a military escort is on
board to accompany the casket containing the remains of his friend,
another soldier. The pilot gives this escort special priority, and then it
turns out the family of the deceased is also on the plane. When the plane
lands, the pilot has somehow arranged for a special procedure for the
family to observe the unloading of the casket from the cargo area and
transfer to the next plane, on a connecting flight. When the plane lands,
because the pilot has explained that a fallen soldier is on board, to whom
he refers by name as if he were still alive (a military tradition) and he
has asked the other passengers to please remain seated while the escort
and family get off the plane first and so forth. The stewardesses are
amazed when everyone sits quietly in their seats and the parade of
family and friends walks down the center aisle. And then someone
started to clap. The entire passenger area erupted with applause for the
family of the departed soldier, and respectful comments of well-wishing
surrounded them on their way out of the plane.
Now, I would like to ask you to imagine what may have happened if
several of the Most Hating Family in America had been on
this flight, and had stood up to ridicule the family as they walked by?