As a society, we are hypocrites on this at best.  Dont dare disturb the
graves of our dead but we have no compunctions about disturbing the graves
of other cultures and removing the very bones of the dead for 'study' and
for us to gawk at in museums.  I wonder if there would be the same feelings
about diving on a German U-boat and if not, why not?

> -----Original Message-----
> From: SCUBA or ELSE!Diver's forum
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bjorn Vang Jensen
> Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:21 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [SCUBA-SE] Wrecks as War Graves
>
> Strike,
>
> I had a very animated discussion with a large group og
> American divers on the Sun Dander II in Palau once. They were
> lamenting the fact that there were no bones in the wrecks we
> dived (incidentally, there are more wrecks in Palau lagoon
> than in Truk!), and couldn't fathom why taking pictures with
> human remains should be anything other than in the spirit of
> the adventure of diving.
>
> Until I asked them how they would feel if a Japanese dive
> magazine published similar pictures from the "Arizona".
>
> Bjorn
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: SCUBA or ELSE! Diver's forum
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Strike
> > Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2004 15:55
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: [SCUBA-SE] Wrecks as War Graves
> >
> >
> > On Sunday, August 22, 2004 5:31 PM, Bjorn wrote:
> >
> > > I agree with nearly everything you say, but feel that you
> chose one
> > > particular example poorly: That of Truk Lagoon.
> >
> > (snip)
> >
> > > In any event, I agree with you that, given the proper
> > attitude, there
> > > is nothing wrong with diving wrecks, no matter how they
> > sank. But Truk
> > > is, to my mind, an example of a highly undesirable turn of events.
> >
> > Mate!  Given what you say, I withdraw that example -
> although I would
> > add that the vast majority of divers (ones that I know, anyhow!) to
> > Truk Lagoon do tend to respect its status.
> >
> > On another matter!  You should have been in Sydney for a dive
> > yesterday with Huw, Suzanne, Julian and myself.  Conditions
> were nigh
> > on perfect - apart from the near-surfing exit over the rocks at
> > Harbord! :-)))
> >
> > Strike
> >
>
>