The Anti-BODIES Virtual Protest Site

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Because it is not ok to take another person's body, plastinate, skin, dissect, pose, and display him with a piece of sporting equipment to be viewed by people of all ages...
 
because exploiting the dead in order to make a profit is wrong, no matter what the rationalization...
 
because dead bodies are not art supplies...
 
because, when we dehumanize the dead, it becomes easier to dehumanize the living...

because every death, whatever the cause, is that of a human being who wished, in life, to be treated with respect....

we come together to form this virtual picket line. 

Those of us listed below stand in opposition to BODIES...the Exhibition and hope that by doing so, others will make an educated decision with respect to walking through the exhibit's entrance.

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Here are the newest members of the picket line:

Name
City, State
Comments
Dwana Hooper
Valdosta, GA
Can the UN do anything about the bodies coming from China?!
Bonnie Young laing
Pittsburgh, PA
 This exhibit is appalling and inhumane. As a social scientist, I am required to gain informed consent for such innocuous practices as interviewing "human subjects".  Therefore, it is hard for me to contemplate how the bodies of "human subjects" can be displayed without documented consent.  It flies in the face of the ethics of every profession of which I am aware...the rationale for the continuation of the exhibit is not persuasive.

My family will not support the
Carnegie Science Center as long as it continues to fail to honor basic ethical principles.
Jean D'Ascenzo
Haddonfield, NJ

I was glad to find a way to protest this neo-Nazi exhibition.  I hope others do too.

Bernard D'Ascenzo
Haddonfield, NJ
 
Aaron Franklin
Imperial, CA

They should be required to provide documentation of consent.  This is appalling.

Cassandra Franklin

Imperial, CA

Using bodies of people that have not given consent is absurd and should not be tolerated. 

Allison Schlesinger
Pittsburgh (Dormont), PA

It seems that one of the Carnegie Science Center's arguments for bringing "Bodies ... the Exhibition" to Pittsburgh is that it's a very popular exhibit.

You could say the same about the circus freak shows that once toured the country.

Mary D. Snead
Martinez, GA

I cannot believe that any culture would accept such a flagrant and disgusting demonstration of disrespect for human life. I am ashamed that this exhibit has made its way into the USA.

Paul J. Dardeau
Lenexa, KS

I'm still in shock that this is in fact real.  Where does it all end?  How is this different from taxidermy, but for people?  Is there anything sacred left in the world?  I will do everything in my power to oppose this madness.

Dave Ackerman
Gibsonia, PA

Thank you, Ms. Catz, for your courageous moral stand.

Matt Fetterman
Pittsburgh, PA

The 20/20 show on ABC was very disturbing. I got to agree that Elaine Catz was right all along and additionally she had the integrity to resign over her principles.
It is just totally unacceptable to use bodies for this exhibit when we are not 100% sure that the people have agreed to it.
It is an embarrassment to
Pittsburgh- we should be better than this.

Patrecia Barrett
Redding, CA
 
Daniel Fine, MD
New Kensington, PA

As a human being, and as a resident of the Pittsburgh, and as a supporter of the Carnegie Museums, I am ashamed that I and other people here have been silent on this  issue. The exhibit is a disgrace, viewers who are aware of the questions and condone it are in denial, and the leadership of the museum has been totally irresponsible in failing to understand the human rights questions and failing to do real diligence in determining the provenance of the exhibit and the "bodies". Shame on the Carnegie.
Much gratitude to you Ms Catz for your courage and your witness.

Dr. Rosario Sudano DMD
Portersville, PA

This is truly appalling. Hypocrisy at the highest level.  I am sure the humans in this "exhibit" did not sign up for it.  Are their families being compensated? I don't think so. It is disrespectful and immoral.  This is just another example of the moral decay of our society.

Julian & Laura Semilian

Winston-Salem, NC

We are horrified by this (we found out about it Feb 15).  Thank you for your efforts in recognizing and working against a thing unconscionable in every way, beginning to end!  Please let us know if there is something we can do in our area, or also the New Orleans / Mobile area.  I have been posting about this on the internet with links to your site.  Thank you for your courage and conviction in leaving Carnegie.

Ed Falenski
Oakmont, Pa.

I believe the Show to be unethical.  Anyone paying the cost of admission becomes responsible for the actions of the Show's Creators. 

Anita Orans Fine
New Kensington, PA

appalling lack of morality and human sensitivity

Anne Araya
Fort Thomas, KY
 
Kathy Fine
Pittsburgh, PA
 
Suzanne Polen
Pittsburgh, PA
 
Molly Rush
Pittsburgh, PA

I find the use of the word "specimen" when referring to human beings says it all.

Karen S. Peterson
Pittsburgh, PA
As a retired public health professor, I am outraged at seeing the comments defending this exhibit as a learning experience.  An even better learning experience is to work with people who are homeless, who are living in poverty, and who, as innocent individuals, suffer the consequences of military actions.
Robert Jeddrzejewski
TarentumPA

I have written a personal letter to JO HAAS questioning her common sense, ethics and sensitivity as well as her persistent attempts to justify the unjustifiable.  Am boycotting the Science Center as long as she is affiliated.

Judy Gallo
McKees Rocks, PA
I am very surprised that there are so many others who feel exactly the same as I do.  Utterly horrified, sickened and appalled.  I've lost faith in most of humanity. This society and it seems most of the so called "civilized" world has reached a new low. There isn't much I can add or say that hasn't already been expressed by other members of this Picket Line.  I hope the spirits of these abused, tortured, and exploited individuals haunt every person involved who has profited from this abomination.  Have these people ever heard of Karma? It’s obvious they have no conscience or sense of right or wrong. And that goes for all of the patrons viewing this exhibit also.  One should always remember; When you look into the abyss, It looks back into you.
Edward R Mortimer
Danielson, CT

Unethical, immoral and pornographic.  No science or art here, only bloody murder for profit.

Tirzah Mason
Trafford, PA

This is an important step in ending the silence that becomes complicity. History abounds (as does daily life) with instances in which people and other creatures are treated as objects of use, mis-use, to be entertained by or titillated by -in the guise of being educated. One must disengage one's heart in order to view this exhibit- and that is a very dangerous thing to do. When these plastinated bodies are no longer useful, where will they go? Will they be sent to a landfill or incinerator like trash, will someone remember they were once human beings, created in the image of G-d, subjective consciousnesses of the Universe? And what do we become, as users?

Nancy Allen
Brooklyn, NY

i went to this exhibit almost a year ago and i still feel horrified. it is shameful.

Andrew Gallo
McKees Rocks,PA

What really bothers me is that the Catholic Church, the Pittsburgh Diocese in this particular instance, is condoning this macabre and grotesque display...They need to get their act together and actually stand up for something in this world.

Angelina
Jacksonville, AL

My Chemistry teacher, saw this and is absolutely amazed by this exhibit.  I on the other hand am not, and wish I never would have seen it.  At all.  Even being a pre nursing major in college, this is absolutely disgusting.  This is showing the public, humans cut in half, etc.  I'd MUCH rather learn about my insides from a PLASTIC model.  This is such gore to me.  Who would agree for the world to see their dead body?  Disgusting.

Greg Shaw
Ithaca, NY
 
Pat Monahan
Pittsburgh, PA

I am glad to see that someone (Ms Catz) has had the courage to back up their convictions.  This isn't education, it voyeurism in its ugliest form.

Georgianne Cohen
West Hartford, CT
 
Melissa Vance
Neenah, WI

This is morally and ethically reprehensible. It disgusts me to think that anyone would participate in this exhibition.

Lawrence Smith
Phoenix, AZ

As a medical professional, we are charged with the dignity of our fellow humans while alive, and after death.  We must shut down these freakshows as a sign of respect for humanity.

Perry Dimmitt
Tyler, TX

This is very wrong and needs to be stopped.

Kay Fox
Detroit, MI

I feel that the Bodies exhibition is dishonorable. It is wrong that this is how anyone thought to make a profit. To make a circus of people who had no idea that they'd be made deceased clowns, plastered and displayed in front of viewers who believed that stronger ethics and morals were behind the exhibit. I am disappointed to say that I am one of those viewers who have been to a viewing here in Detroit in May 2007. I had no idea that this was actually set up as a form of national new wave entertainment for a colossal profit. I began realizing something was wrong when I found out there were several simultaneous viewings all across the country, that had begun to extend dates to continue months beyond the original schedule ending as if to take advantage of the ever flowing profit. That's when it hit me, "What's really going on here?" I apologize for my attendance, and more so that I didn't ask the "right" questions prior to attending. This saddens me horribly.

Paul Chu
Meriden, CT

Exhibitions of this sort are an assault on the dignity of the human person and the existential meaning of the body... BODIES, specifically, is an assault on basic legal rights.