Scott Atran hypothesizes that in the name of "sacred values," human beings make "costly sacrifices," including dying. We die and kill in the name of "transcendent ideals." In the Middle-East, suicide bombers kill themselves (and others) to prove the depth of their commitment to their sacred values, claiming their actions are a "sublime matter of moral virtue."

In the West, people are not so honest--often unaware of the intent of their actions. Some say that wars are based on "rational calculation." The proof of the pudding, however, is in the outcomes or results. The quantity of dying and killing exceeds the dreams of even the most radical suicide bombers.

Under the pretense of trying to "win," wars are fought--and millions of human being slaughtered. Cemeteries are created to testify to our sincerity: proof of the depth of our devotion to our sacred values.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

MEMORIALS TO THE DEAD:
Commemorating Those who have Died for Sacred Values