Ashes to Ashes

It has been quite a while since my last post and for that I am sorry.  School crept up on me rather quickly and to make matters worse I have been battling some form of cold for the better part of two weeks.
Over the past few weeks I have had the chance to read many an article related to the whole topic of death and burial. One particular article stood out to me and has compelled me to write.  This article was titled "Disney Disputes Pirate Ride Ashe Scattering," and as one can expect from the title, it was about a woman who allegedly was scattering ashes of a loved one while on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the park.  This really got me thinking: Where and when is it appropriate to scatter ashes? What lengths would I go to scatter the ashes of a loved one? 

Frankly, this subject is quite a difficult one to discuss since almost every person has a varying opinion on the matter. I have never had the experience of scattering someones ashes. My Grandfather was cremated after he passed away and as a family we decided we would scatter his ashes but since he left us no instructions as to where we haven't really decided on a fitting place.  As far as ash scattering goes, I feel that it is important to do ones best to fulfill the dieing wish of those whose ashes are being scattered.  However, what if that requires one to do something that is legally, or socially unacceptable?  This is where this topic really becomes difficult.  In terms of the Disneyland incident, the line was crossed.  This was an area that people use on a regular basis and has to be by park employees rather than be washed away by weather. But what harm is it really doing?  Human ashes are more or less inert, they can't really do any more damage than the ashes from  the bottom  of a campfire.  If the lady in question from the Disneyland article had been caught sprinkling campfire ashes I doubt there would have been an article written.  The real problem with the scattering of ashes in public place like Disneyland is the stigma surrounding it.  Psychologically, these ashes are still tied to the deceased person and the mind instantly connects them (no matter how hard I try not to) with a dead body.  When I think of it this way,  what went on on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride strikes me as, for lack of a better word, gross.  But I really can't blame her, nor can I judge her doing what she has be accused of.  If a loved one of mine requested that some of their ashes be scattered at Disneyland, then I would be damned if they weren't. Though I doubt that I would be quite so blatantly obvious as to do it on the ride itself. What it comes down to is that I would do everything in my power to scatter the ashes where requested, although I would also attempt to make as little impact on those around me as possible. Anyway, more food for thought.

Here's a link to the article in question:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3876673&page=1#.T10FIPVy3Q8