# Pens in moment of silence **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-in-moment-of-silence/709325 "2015-01-08T16:34:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-in-moment-of-silence/709325/1 "2015-01-08T16:34:24Z")
What is the significance of holding a pen or pencil during the minute of silence observed for the people killed in France? [NPR story and photographs.](http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/01/08/375805941/the-latest-on-paris-attack-several-detained-but-manhunt-continues?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20150108&utm_campaign=dailydigest&utm_term=nprnews) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-in-moment-of-silence/709325/2 "2015-01-08T16:37:10Z")
The people who were killed were artists. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-in-moment-of-silence/709325/3 "2015-01-08T16:45:29Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-in-moment-of-silence/709325/4 "2015-01-08T17:10:01Z")
Specifically cartoonists from a magazine, where one would use a pen vs a paintbrush/spray paint/etc. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-in-moment-of-silence/709325/5 "2015-01-08T17:21:56Z")
Also, “the pen,” metaphorically, means the press, free expression of ideas, etc. As contrasted with “the sword,” violence. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-in-moment-of-silence/709325/6 "2015-01-08T18:42:33Z")
Might be pushing it but PEN is also [the name of an organization](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEN_International). > [@](#): > > PEN International (known as International PEN until 2010)[1] is a worldwide association of writers, founded in London in 1921[2] to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere. The association has autonomous International PEN centers in over 100 countries. > > Other goals included: to emphasise the role of literature in the development of mutual understanding and world culture; to fight for freedom of expression; and to act as a powerful voice on behalf of writers harassed, imprisoned and sometimes killed for their views. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-in-moment-of-silence/709325/7 "2015-01-08T19:09:03Z")
I’m going with ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ > **[The pen is mightier than the sword](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_pen_is_mightier_than_the_sword)** > > "The pen is mightier than the sword" is a metonymic adage, indicating that the written word is more effective than violence as a means of social or political change. This sentiment has been expressed with metaphorical contrasts of writing implements and weapons for thousands of years. The specific wording that "the pen is mightier than the sword" was first used by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839. > Under some interpretations, written communication can refer to administrative power or a... ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pens-in-moment-of-silence/709325/8 "2015-01-08T19:32:40Z")
NM