All the controversy over the Bodies Revealed exhibit ought to be good news for Union Station. The "ick" factor will keep many away.
So will on-going concerns about where the bodies came from, an issue that flared after last week's 20/20 story about a related bodies show, Bodies: The exhibition.
But in a town like KC, where there isn't all that much to do sometimes, the dead bodies are sure to bring in a lot of live ones, too. Mine among them.
I admit to having my doubts about the claims that every one of the bodies was donated by the people who used to inhabit them.
They're from China, right? Who trusts anything that comes from China, anymore.
The toothpaste has anti-freeze in it, or something you wouldn't want in your mouth. The pet food kills your pets.
The toys are painted with leads, or are likely to break into dangerous pieces.
The list goes on and on. But I'll see the bodies exhibit, anyway, out of curiosity and because it might be as billed: an educational experience.
By the way, I wonder how many of those protesting the bodies exhibit plan on watching the Olympics this year?
To me, China's sponsorship of the Summer Games is a bigger affront to decency than some exhibit at Union Station. Organ harvesting, political prisoners, rampant executions and the stifling of basic human rights -- all that still goes on in China, despite its growing modernity.
And yet, millions will watch the Olympics and, except in certain serious media outlets, there'll be little mention of the dark side of that society.
Not a profound observation, I'll grant you. But I can't help thinking that some people are making far too much out of the Union Station show in that context.
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Fully DOUBT It!
+ I was one of those protestors at Union Station, and I happen to know the people that were with me. I can say with a great deal of confidence that not a single one of the people who protested the Bodies Revealed will be watching the Olympic Games hosted in China.
Some people are actually honest people, and NOT hypocrates. When they say something is distasteful, they don't take part in it. However, the Bodies Revealed Exhibit was not merely distasteful, but a dishonor to Union Station and to our city. It was immoral, flat out. Morbid curiosity doesn't make something right. Licensciousness isn't the same as liberty. Many people bawked about their 'liberty' or 'freedom' to see the exhibit, but from a MORAL perspective, let's be fair --- what freedoms do people have when their bodies are used for exhibits? China is a Communist country that exploits its workers --- not paying them enough to even support their 1-child families -- and the US feeds off this exploitation (sorry Wal-Mart and Target --- put some of us have had enough of you). We can say, "...but we can't stop it..." but that's only a weak cop out.
Sorry, sir, but indulging in immoral recreation for the sake of morbid curiosity is disgusting, and to publicize it is a moral scandal and a disgrace.