But, in Colma, the eye may mark that the deceased as a member of the Vigilance Committees of 1851 or 1856. It scries you as a potential wrongdoer. For those victimized by the Committee, it stands for tyranny. Here lies the problem of symbol interpretation. Just as with a work of literature, we must understand the point of view of the reader as well as of the author.
Cemeteries exist in societies.
When we walk in them, we are walking amongst members of our own community. What it all means depends as much on us as on what the stonecutter or the patron wanted to convey. Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California. Copyright 1997 by Joel GAzis-SAx, All Rights Reserved.