The Belgian Coach tragedy.

[10ClarionSt]

Are we going to see a minutes' silence at football grounds this week? It seems to be the norm these days. Everyone has to act as though a close member of the family has died. Sad business for sure but no mass mourning again please.

[Bbbananas]

Because it was in Belgium, probably not. I know what you mean though - mass mourning has been popular since Princess Diana.

Though I agreed with the minute silence at football matches when it came to Hillsborough, Bradford etc. And I always observe the 2 minute silence on the 11th of the 11th.

[TheOtherHalf]

A tragedy such as this is always very very sad, especially where children are involved. Whats 2 minutes silence to all us lucky people ?

[EcclesCake]

I always struggle with the mass mourning thing. Unless I have some kind of link to the deceased, e.g. family in services on 11/11 or loyal football attendee I don't understand why I am expected to join the grief of others for a tragedy that I have no association with.

I accept that as a human I should share some kind of sadness at the loss of life but if I was to do that everytime I'd be an emotional wreck.

[Bbbananas]

True. The last time I watched the News at Ten was when 6 of our lads were killed in the latest Afghanistan explosion. I cried. Then had dreams that one of them was my son.

We all feel compassion and sadness at death, especially sudden deaths and those of young people. But we cannot take on everyone's tragedy.

[sunny-dave]

I think the armistice day silence probably transcends any current personal attachment and is a proper 'national' remembrance - although my dad was in the D Day landings and I always think of him as a 20 year old as he was on that day.

Otherwise I agree entirely with eccles - I struggle with understanding the necessity for public grieving about an event with which people have no personal connection.

[Bbbananas]

Grief is a very personal thing. And personally, I like to do mine in private. Some 'mass mourning' silences etc I do agree with, but it would be so easy to turn every accident, tragedy etc into a national event, which lessens it somehow for those closest.

[sir.prize]

sallabananas' post about the Bradford football fire reminds me of the Youtube clip showing the tragedy. As people were obviously in distress and 56 lost their lives, there were late-teen yobs 'celebrating' and cheering as the disaster unfolded. No mass mourning with those idiots - just incomprehensible behaviour by unruly idiots. So so sad.