We observe a minute’s silence for a century-old war; why not for a serious attack which occurred in living memory?
[Devil’s advocate]
Because every day is the anniversary of some tragic event within living memory - the Boxing Day Tsunami, the Lockerbie Bombing, 9/11, next year it’ll be the Tunisia attacks, and fatal school shootings in the US must account for a month’s worth in the calender alone.
[/Devil’s advocate]
But these aren’t annual events (apart from 11 November) - I doubt we’ll observe another moment of silence ever for the Tunisia victims, and I think it’s been five years since the last 7/7 observance.
Fair question, I don’t know.
There isn’t any equation of grief that works for this. I know that the millions sacrificed in multiple wars seems worthy of yearly remembrance.
The ten year anniversary of an ad-hoc terrorist attack…less so. There was a service held this morning at the monument to the dead and sure, for those attending and those closely involved a period of quite contemplation is needed. I just feel uncomfortable with extending that out the country as whole.
I know I’m not the only one to feel that way. Others have mentioned it in this thread and several people brought it up and expressed similar sentiments (unprompted by me).
Perhaps by making it a national thing we give those vaporised shitheads more attention than their actions deserve. As I say, I don’t know why it makes me uncomfortable.
There’s a Minutes Silence almost every week in the football Premiership.
There was a rumour Glen Hoddle wanted one for his dog when he was manager at Tottenham.