What do you all think?

[Curly]

This past spring, a great man passed away who did many things for the fire service. Joe Biden showed up quickly to pay his respects to the family then proceeded outside and used the front of the church, where the guy was laid out for the viewing, as the back drop for a photo op. WTF? There's a park across the street and this day is about the deceased gentleman not Joe. I made my thoughts known at work/FB and pissed alot of fellow workers off especially the suckers in the photo. That has got to be one of the most disrespectful things I've seen in a long time. Thoughts?

[Bellicose]

I think I would be more upset with the guys who asked for the photo and chose to be in it. Biden was only fulfilling their request. Could he of said, hey guys I'll do it, but how about we go over here instead. Yes, he could of, but the people who asked for it and chose to be in it, we're more disrespectful by asking for that photo op right then and there. It's a time of mourning, not a time for a pic with the VP. Never understood why I have seen cameras at a funeral to bbegging in with. Not that I have been to many, but some of them, I have seen a camera. It is a time to celebrate the life of the person on their way to the pearly gates, not a time to take pics for your photo album.

[childOfLacroix]

Post-mortem photography was commonplace until about the mid 20th Century. Before that time, photography was expensive; many people were photographed rarely during life, usually only at major life events like weddings. In some cases, a photo of an individual lying in a coffin was the only one the family had of that person, particularly if it was an infant or small child.

Some people still take post-mortem photos--especially if the deceased is an infant--but it's not common, since modern people aren't used to it. It is seen as weird and creepy.

If someone were at a funeral to take pictures of the deceased, I wouldn't have an objection to it unless the family of the deceased did. But it is tacky to use a funeral as a photo op for the living. I agree that if these mourners just had to have a picture with Biden, they should have had it taken across the street.

[Jessica]

I agree that if these mourners just had to have a picture with Biden, they should have had it taken across the street.

I agree. I think that there is a time and a place for this kind of thing, and right in front of the church can be disrespectful. However, there are plenty of pictures taken at/of funerals of well known people. Not of the decedent, but of the church, the mourners, even pallbearers bringing the casket out of the church. Since this picture wasn't to commemorate the deceased, and really more of a celebrity photo-op than anything else, it should have been taken in a different location.

I don't think anyone involved meant any harm, truly. But hopefully given the ability to look back and think of it from a retrospective point of view, they realize their errors and don't repeat it in the future.

[longnecker]

I don't feel it was disrespectful. The photo was taken outside the church. Other than those present who would even know what was going on inside the church at that time??

[Curly]

I don't feel it was disrespectful. The photo was taken outside the church. Other than those present who would even know what was going on inside the church at that time??

I was there earlier doing honor guard duty as were the guys in the picture. There was a line around the block waiting to get in, politicians, brass and many other VIPs of Delaware. I left before the pic was taken. Believe me Longnecker, everybody in the neighborhood knew what was going on in there.