National Mourning

[bednobs]

what is it? do we have the ability to trigger it in this country? what would it look like - what would practicaly happen?

[douglas9401]

I think we have more sense at the moment but Twitter, Facebook and the like are fast doing away with common sense and reserve.

We'll soon be like Americans, not embarrassed to vent to any clone who'll listen to our gibbering while pointing a camera at our uncontrollable maws.

[Mamyalynne]

It varies from Nation to Nation, I'm sure we could announce it here.


Memorial Services, alteration/interruption to TV/Radio Broadcasts.

Schools sometimes close.

I don't think there's a set pattern really.

[douglas9401]

When I say 'we' I mean most folk over 40. No hope for the generation that took the sleeve tattoo and shouting OI OI! as signs of pure class.

[Mamyalynne]

Bednobs question is a fair one and I'm not sure it deserves such levity, it may have arisen from Portugal's announcement following the fires this weekend.

[scooping]

Remembrance Sunday is a national day of mourning

[-SharonA-]

Mamya, I was just reading about the Portuguese fires and their 3 days of mourning. I was thinking why cannot we do the same back in England?!? It makes us seem heartless.

[Mamyalynne]

I don't think we are heartless, there has been much done for victims of the string of recent tragedies to befall us.

[EDDIE51]

I was living in Saudi Arabia when the King died! We had just 4 hours notice that all shops and businesses would be forced to close for 5 days National Mourning . We had to race to the shops to get food to last the 5 days .

[andy-hughes]

I think the reaction to the death of Diana Princess of Wales was the start of a new concept in national mourning - and there is ample evidence and footage to show what it was all about.

[woofgang]

I am not sure that anyone in this country has the ability to “decree it” and it would be up to the individual country to set down what it consists of. Historically I don’t know if it has ever been a thing in the UK, even for the death of royal or political figures....I mean public services and processions are organised but nobody MAKES individuals attend or get involved. Public buildings are required to fly flags at half mast of course but that’s about all.

[Mamyalynne]

There are Royal Protocols set in place, there was an announced 10 day mourning period when the Queen Mother died.

[woofgang]

but that’s still only for the Royal Family.....there was no expectation that the public at large should do anything although many people did of course.

[Mamyalynne]

No, of course not.

[Cloverjo]

I don't remember mourning for 10 days when the Queen Mother died.

I do remember when Diana died and my workplace wasn't sure whether to close for the day of her funeral. Some of us said we should pay our respects and stay closed, others were turning up saying 'why aren't we open?'

We have held a minute's silence for every recent tragedy. If we had 3 days we'd never get anything done. This isn't meant to sound flippant. I'm as upset as anyone by everything that's happened in the last few weeks. But we have to keep going.

[woofgang]

there’s also the judgement about what merits national mourning and what doesn’t...... who makes that call and what happens when people disagree with that judgement?

[douglas9401]

I'll see your levity and raise you a sanctimony.

[Mamyalynne]

Go whistle.

[douglas9401]

Ya got me, a telling blow.