Mintball wrote:As a country, we seem to have gone from the extreme of 'stiff upper lip' to a sort of communal weeping and wailing. The example of Princess Diana's death and funeral is perhaps the extreme. But we've seen in the last week or so what happens when someone makes even mild criticism of Hillsborough campaigners/commemorations.
The on-pitch heart attack of Fabrice Muamba brought forth a swell of public widespread emotion and, apparently, religious fervour.
We've seen vigils for all sorts of things/people in a way that would not previously have happened.
So ...
Why are such things happening?
Now, to clarify a couple of points. I think, in the Muamba case, there was a lot of genuine shock. a) because it happened on live TV and b) because he's a supposedly fit (ie healthy) young man. But that does not explain the sudden apparent explosion in religious sentiment. Personally, I found it shocking myself and I have mentioned it more than once on social media – but I didn't suddenly start to pray or urge others to.
Second, it clearly isn't just a 'Liverpool thing' – so we <b>ain't</b> going down that route on this thread.
Personally, I remember exactly where I was when Hillsborough occurred and I remember talking to a fellow football fan on the Monday (neither of us a Liverpool supporter) and our mutual reaction being: 'There but for the grace of god go I'. I signed the petition to have the files on Hillsbrough released. But I cannot see why some people would get so upset at the idea that it's ridiculous to refuse to play (work) on the anniversary of an event, when we quite clearly do not extend that to plenty of other tragedies and disasters. Quite seriously – what would be the reaction if London's Tube and bus drivers refused to work every 7/7?
The Diana thing was utterly weird. With Hillsborough, it's mostly people who feel a real and personal connection with the city/club, yet how many people had ever even met Diana? I watched the cortege out of curiosity and there were people keening – you could hear it.
Then, of course, the
Daily Mail had to try to drum up something even remotely comparable when the Queen Mum popped her clogs.
Weirder and weirder.
What's it all about?
Is this a kind of collective response to the demise of other collective, communal experiences, such as organised religion?
It isn't just a result of communications technology and the enormous growth of social media – Hillsborough predates that, as does Diana's death.
Is it bread and circuses, manufactured by – someone? – to distract us?
Is it some general weakening of 'moral fibre'?
Is it part of a culture that, in modern times at least, never seems to do things with anything but extremes – just as, say, in terms of sex, we seem to combine prudery and prurience and avoid any sense of pragmatism or common sense.
I really don't know the answers and find it all makes me shake my head.
So take it away.
If I take Princess Diana's case first - This was a predominantly female response to the only 'human face' of the royal family,at that time.She was murdered in horrific circumstances in a foreign country.She was known around the world and envied by many.I didn't witness the funeral but the death of any young woman in similar circumstances,(not that Mercedes Benz cars allow too many passengers to be killed and are never driven by drunken men,) would involve a great deal of sympathy.
Fabrice Muamba brought great public support as it was played out in front of 30,000 + people inside a soccer stadium (and live on tv.) which would have led to those with a modicum of humanity wanting 'NOT' to have been present at the death of a young man who,even as a soccer player,has something of a reputation for NOT being in trouble with the authorities on or off the field and was a very popular individual with many players from different teams.That is not always the case with modern soccer players.''The sudden apparent explosion in religious sentiment'' was,I believe,started by another soccer player and continued by family members after they had visited him in hospital.
I do NOT understand why you signed to have the files released regarding the Hillsborough disaster.It won't bring any of the deceased back.Do you have a real and personal connection ? Did you know any of the deceased ? Had you even met any of them ?
I don't think Manchester United refuse to play on the anniversary of the Munich disaster.
The Daily Mail may have a readership of a certain age group that were able to recall the Queen Mother and her work during the war.I realise the paper may be politically opposed to your own beliefs but a significant number of people apparently rated the Queen Mother.Just because the country won't respond in the same way as they did for Princess Diana when a Labour politician or one of those scientists die,it does you no credit to pour scorn on popular individuals.
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With regard to flowers left at the roadside.A line in a song goes,''Sometimes flowers ain't enough.''
Instead of people leaving flowers where motorists die why not prevent the death in the first place ?
People drive correctly and don't start wars with foreign countries where Brits.surrender their lives.
