London bombs: "Death toll approaches 80..." - 2 min silence on Thurs

[Badger Kitten]

Well, I'm going to Trafalgar Square for the silence. With several other people who were on the bombed Kings X train.


I badly want to be with other survivors, and with other Londoners for two minutes, standing together. It is very meaningful to me, and it seems that the other people coming feel the same.

If you don't like it, ok, but please don't make a fuss about it, it's only two minutes. And whilst Thursday may not have had the TV pictures of 11/9, or as many fatalities, it still injured a thousand and many people died in an absolutely hideous, frightening way. But most of the horror was underground, and you couldn't see it on the TV.

And as for it being 'used for political ends' or us being muppets who are being 'used' by 'the system,' it doesn't feel like that at all to me, or to any of the other surviviors I have made contact with (through this site and the BBC blog).

It feels like an appropriate, dignified, communal way of marking grief, and something I and others need to do.

(P.S:No journalists FFS)

 

[Stobart Stopper]

2 minutes' silence for us to pay respects is nothing compared to the physical and emotional suffering of the survivors and the people who died, the ones left behind have a lifetime of suffering ahead of them. 2 minutes in nothing.
By that I mean, please think about this tomorrow, we can get back to normal after we have done this, but many lives have been ruined.

 

[Hollis]

If you don't like it, ok, but please don't make a fuss about it, it's only two minutes.

Well fine, I've made my point and my point still stands.. Everything's up for discussion including these 2 minute silences.

 

[legowars]

Well, I'm going to Trafalgar Square for the silence. With several other people who were on the bombed Kings X train. It feels like an appropriate, dignified, communal way of marking grief, and something I and others need to do.

I too will be joining BK for the 2 minutes silence, because I stood opposite her on Thursday morning on that Kings X train. I can understand people's cynicism towards the silence - hell, I just read that article "When silence isn't golden" and found myself pretty much agreeing with most of it (cynicism is my normal state and a fairly British one at that) - but this is something that we need to do. I can see that while the media will, for a large part, exploit this to a certain degree and that perhaps this may be used as a stepping stone for the government to implement even more security-touted laws that impinge on our civil liberties... but I also realsise that it is also important to consider the human element. For many people, it is a chance to come together with others who they don't know and express their grief and respect in a tangible and all-together British way. Let's face it - we're not exactly well known for our 'grieving abilities', so any chance we get to express something like that is surely a good thing even if it can't be prevented from exploitation. After all, this tragedy has been already exploited to its upmost already and will continue to do so regardless of whether we have a few minutes silence.

 

[TeeJay]

My best wishes go out to legowars and Badger Kitten, and everyone else affected by last weeks' bombs.

I am going to be at home doing not very much, but will avoid jumping around shouting or anything (not that anyone would know the difference).

I think its fair to give people the chance to show their grief and to recognise what they are doing. During the two minutes silence people can think whatever they want to privately in their own heads. The cynics can whistle to themselves or something.

Yes it is asking them to do something that maybe they don't agree with but all they have to do is allow people to hold the silence - I wouldn't expect or ask anyone to go out into the streets, just to let people who want to do the silence do it and to not go blundering right through the middle of a memorial. There is no law or rule that says people should show respect to others but I would hope that most people can do so.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

My office is silent most of the time anyway, but I certainly won't be making an effort to make a noise or anything - that would be childish and rude. I won't be going out onto the street but I won't take the piss out of anyone for doing so. You all do what you feel you have to. That's your right.

I am fucked if I'm going to go out and express my emotions in the approved manner just because some fucking chain email went round though. No. It's not going to happen. If I'd seen it in some neutral context and thought "hm, that sounds like a good idea, think I'll join them" then fair enough, but I didn't, and the idea that I'm going to because other people in the office will makes me sick. I'm not going to make a big deal out of it because it isn't a big deal but if anyone asks me why I'm not going out I will tell them.

 

[rorymac]

Respect is due probably .. I think I'd pretend to have a dentist appointment

 

[Hollis]

I think its fair to give people the chance to show their grief and to recognise what they are doing. During the two minutes silence people can think whatever they want to privately in their own heads. The cynics can whistle to themselves or something.

Or perhaps you could stop being so judgemental in calling people who disagree with it cynics?

People have ample opportunity to show there grief. When most people die, memorial services are held or sometimes vigils, which people can go to and express their grief/rememberance out of choice...

Unfortunately I don't feel that receiving emails saying "there will be two minutes silence" fits the bill.

In fact, I find it all rather cheapening !! So there!!

 

[paulhackett]

There are few times in your life when you will be in a situation where you ought to be bound to everyone around you irrespective of their background, but simply because you are a Londoner.

It's one of the few remaining acts you CAN do in a disenfranchised society, to stand up for two minutes and PROTEST.. and it will be one of the few times in your life when almost everyone in this city will genuinely be expressing the same emotion.

If there are parallels to be drawn, then they should be drawn with Madrid, where there was as much an element of showing you won't be cowed.

It's not about mourning the passing of the priveleged, but the students, admin clerks, sandwich makers and cleaners..

You can think what you want in moments of silence.

But now might be the time to stand up at last?