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2006-07-07 07:23:13
=OBS= EstebanRey
Member
+256|6791|Oxford, England, UK, EU, Earth
..are the holding of 1/2/5 minutes silences pointless?

Okay before I get de-karma'd by every Tom, Dick & Harry let me explain.  First of all, I feel grief and sadness for the families and friends of any person that was murdered/killed and detest the waste of human life, I really do and these comment are based solely on the practice of holding silences.

Today we held a 2 minutes silence for the victims of last years attacks in London but it left me thinking why?  I don't mean the people's death were unimportant or not worthy of my attention but what about the 1000s of murder victims every year or all those people in Java recently.  Why do we rate the victims of terrorism/natural disasters higher than other killings?  Why should the nation hold silences for these people and not someone who was stabbed and killed in street by a mugger?

In, the UK the phenonmenon of holding mintue silences occured when Diana died and the whole process was engineered to make us feel guilty and sorry for her death, despite the fact many people in this country are anti-Royal and saw her as no more important than a regular person (although it was obviously a sad event for everybody).

You can't go to a footbal match now without having to observe one because a former player, who no one has ever heard of, has died and I just think it's getting silly now.  Will we have this again next year and if so, the year after that?  We could get to a point where we are having these things everyday to commemerate a bad event from the past....

Please, don't judge my comments as insensitive because I do genuinly feel bad for anyone who has lost someone through murder/horrific accident but I just feel grief should be a private thing for the people directly the affected and making it a national thing belittles the trauma that the real victims feel.  I also feel it only pleases the terrorist to see a nation grieving instead of getting on with life as normal.

What do you guys think and are minute silences just a British thing?
2006-07-07 07:25:00
Erkut.hv
Member
+124|6976|California
No, they are American too and retarded to the core.

We should have a minute of chest thumping and screaming, to let people know we haven't forgotten and are still pissed off. Not some candy ass display of "reverence".

Know what I do when there is a moment of silence? Try to hold in a fart, and think about playing cards.

Last edited by Erkut.hv (2006-07-07 07:25:20)

2006-07-07 07:27:11
Bubbalo
The Lizzard
+541|6802
Oh, yes.  Acting like wild animals will convince the world that Americans are dumb militants who run around killing everyone they see
2006-07-07 07:30:30
Erkut.hv
Member
+124|6976|California

Bubbalo wrote:

Oh, yes.  Acting like wild animals will convince the world that Americans are dumb militants who run around killing everyone they see
Well yeah, everyone hates us, might as well act the part.
2006-07-07 07:34:23
Bubbalo
The Lizzard
+541|6802
Or you could try to change world opinion.  But wait, then you wouldn't be able to use terrorism as an excuse to go to war.  Ah, the conundrum!

To go back on topic:  I take issue with it for those sorts of victims, but fully support on, for example, ANZAC Day (the Aussie version of............and think you guys call it V-Day?  Honours those who've died in war, particularly WWI and WWII.  Ironically, the day has significance in terms of a battle we lost to the Turkish).
2006-07-07 07:39:34
Pug
UR father's brother's nephew's former roommate
+652|6783|Texas - Bigger than France
It's not a British thing - I've seen it in Mexico too - a moment of silence during a wedding.  And the US, of course.

I'm with you though - I think respect should be shown in your own way - but I don't mind too much if there's a moment of silence.  It usually reminds me to appreciate what I have.

/depression its Friday!
2006-07-07 08:01:15
Adams_BJ
Russian warship, go fuck yourself
+2,054|6863|Little Bentcock
At bubbalo I don't know what your were/are taught but we didn't lose to the turkish, it was a stalemate, we didn't take any ground but we didn't lose any either. After a very long time pointlessly running over trenches because the British commander told us to, we moved back to the boats, leaving notes for the Turkish. So we didn't lose at all. But back on track, the silences are to recognise national mourning, or also for clubs such as football, so things like murders wouldn't really be practicle as we would be having one everyday, and I am not at all being disrespectful to those who have lost loved ones to the hands of a coward in a balaclava, its just whats practicle.

Last edited by Adams_BJ (2006-07-07 08:04:17)

2006-07-07 08:07:12
Bubbalo
The Lizzard
+541|6802
Adams:  Our aim was to invade Turkey.  We were pushed back.  How do you not define that as a loss?  Sure, we sat on the beach.  But the Turkish aim was to kick us out and we left.
2006-07-07 09:59:11
Wasder
Resident Emo Hater
+139|6916|Moscow, Russia
We have a 1 minute silence on May 9th, the Victory Day, in memory of all the people who lost their lives during The Great Patriotic war and the victims of Nazis. We also have so-called "mourning days", after some huge disasters. On such days, the state flags are hanged lower and no humor shows are on TV.
2006-07-07 10:24:45
kr@cker
Bringin' Sexy Back!
+581|6790|Southeastern USA

Wasder wrote:

We have a 1 minute silence on May 9th, the Victory Day, in memory of all the people who lost their lives during The Great Patriotic war and the victims of Nazis. We also have so-called "mourning days", after some huge disasters. On such days, the state flags are hanged lower and no humor shows are on TV.
I belive this is more relevant, to hold moments of silence for entire groups, like say, the KIA of the invasion of Normandy, is legitimate, but when you do it too often it cheapens the honor for those whose death has made an unquestionable impact on history. The sticky question is, "Who deserves it". Though I think that maybe if they did it to mourn all the vicitms of terrorism instead of just a few, it might be more relevant, especially in an area where your so likely to know someone affected by the IRA bombings and such.

Esteban gets a +1 for bringing up an non-politcally correct subject
2006-07-07 10:34:42
Jinto-sk
Laid Back Yorkshireman
+183|6832|Scarborough Yorkshire England

=OBS= EstebanRey wrote:

In, the UK the phenonmenon of holding mintue silences occured when Diana died and the whole process was engineered to make us feel guilty and sorry for her death, despite the fact many people in this country are anti-Royal and saw her as no more important than a regular person (although it was obviously a sad event for everybody).
We have held a minutes silence on Rememberance Sunday (poppy day) for years dude don't think it is a new phenonmenon since diana died.
2006-07-07 10:37:41
comet241
Member
+164|7006|Normal, IL
we did our moments of silence too here for the victims of 9/11 on the one year anniversary...i dont think it's dumb. in response to the person who suggest we scream and thump our chests.... thats what invading afghanistan one month after 9/11 was    we can respect the dead after we kick some ass first
2006-07-07 10:46:03
KnowMeByTrailOfDead
Jackass of all Trades
+62|6922|Dayton, Ohio
The whole moment of silence just shows how intertwineded religion is with everything we do.  It is the whole idea of silent prayer, no matter what religion you are.  Personally I would go for celebrating the life instead of just mouring the death.  How about playing the person's favorite song. or eaven clapping or something positive and uplifting.  Especially before a game or something where everybody is suppost to be pumped up and ready to go.  The last thing I want is my team falling half asleep while waiting for permission to move and speak.
2006-07-07 10:51:05
-F8-Scotch
Member
+43|6810
This is a double edged question. I don't believe that national recognition of tragic events or costly battles are at all useless or pointless. In many ways identifying with those moments of terror helps bring some closure as a nation to the events which took place. That being said I believe most of these "mourning" rituals are abused or overhyped. It doesn't do much good if a moment of reflection is commercialized to have reflection candles, rememberance buttons or mourning hat parades.

After 9/11 I think there were alot of great things that took place in regards to national focus and mourning for the victims. I remember a "lights across america" deal where everyone was supposed to light a candle, hold up a flashlight or similarly mark the occasion with some kind of light emitting device. Being on the highway it was astonishing to see people pulled over with flags and flashlights or holding candles up in thier car windows. Most people honked horns, waved at passing cars or simply smiled.

There is a time limit on these kinds of displays which usually is a year or so after the event, except for major occurances such as the D-Day invasion or in rememberance of the holocaust. For England it'll probably take another year before people settle down and go about thier buisness. In another sense localized displays only affect those attending the events dedicated to whatever requires remembering. I guess if it bugs you to have to sit through these just don't go to the event or show up late.

Scotch

 

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