Theory Cartoons—You Don't Seem to Miss Me

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On this date in Round and Square History 

26 April 2013—China's Lunar Calendar 2013 04-26
26 April 2013—New Religion: Chinese Five-Phase Cosmology
26 April 2012—Primary Sources: Who Gets Up Early?
26 April 2011—Endings: Mr. Bridge

[a] The New Yorker 2014 04-14

Back in the late-1970s, a prominent New York Yankees catcher died during the middle of the baseball season. This was quite shocking news to a young baseball fan, and (although not at all a follower of the Yankees) I paid close attention to the story.

They prepared for the funeral, and the Yankees planned to play their game the next day. They said that it was for the best, and that "Thurman would have wanted it that way." While the tribute was moving (all players took the field, except for the "vacant" catcher's position), they played on.

[b] Thurman RF

The next day, in the Minneapolis Tribune (that was the name of the paper back then), a columnist named Patrick Reusse begged to differ. If I remember correctly, one of the most memorable lines tapped into what Thurman Munson might have thought. 

"I just died...and they're still playing baseball?..."

This was close to what I was thinking, and I have been pondering the question of just how "society"—from kin to work associates—mourn when the going gets tough.

The implications for deep discussion of social and cultural theory are enormous.

And it becomes even more interesting when there is a fake-death...but no concomitant "fake-mourning." 

It reminds me of Patty Loveless and George Jones singing, "You Don't Seem to Miss Me?"

...or another country song line, "How can I miss you when you won't go away?"

[c] Play Along RF