NO to a state funeral for Captain Sir Tom Moore AIBU?

[Muncher75]

Just that really. I’ve just been sent an email from change.org asking me to sign a petition to push for a state funeral for him.
Now don’t get me wrong he was a remarkable man and an inspiration... but a state funeral? That will cost us, the taxpayer money we definitely cannot afford in the currant climate. Also I’m sure he’d rather the money go where it’s needed.

Someone on a FB group I am in has made a knitted Sir Tom which looks creepy as hell. For some reason, his hands and face are different colours and he appears to be wearing swimming goggles. And people are falling over themselves to order one.

No way. There are hundreds of good people in the UK.

This is f+×÷=/g mad.

I would be very shocked if his family wanted a large funeral, never mind a state funeral, as they said they wanted some privacy now. If they were to have a plaque in place somewhere,say on the house where he lived, and did all his walking, thousands of people will go there, all trampling around with their cameras flashing all the time..

I work in charity and know many many people who volunteer every day of their lives for good causes and their community. I also ran a large care homes group with many wonderful older people living there. Many of whom spent hours and hours knitting clothing for prem baby units and reading to kids in schools.

This is fucking ridiculous. Did no one ever see someone fundraise or do good for others before? He wasn't a god - Theee are thousands and thousands like him. Who've spent their whole lives serving others.

@Bouledeneige

I work in charity and know many many people who volunteer every day of their lives for good causes and their community. I also ran a large care homes group with many wonderful older people living there. Many of whom spent hours and hours knitting clothing for prem baby units and reading to kids in schools.

This is fucking ridiculous. Did no one ever see someone fundraise or do good for others before? He wasn't a god - Theee are thousands and thousands like him. Who've spent their whole lives serving others.

Agree with this.

It's bloody pathetic, not just the lightweight competitive sadness but the cynical manipulation of same by the crap media and All-out-of-ideas Johnson.

I thought 2020 was bad enough, but we're now entering the twilight zone.

Oh and I don't give a fuck about what photoshopped and body-chopped 'celebrities leading the way' think about someone else's funeral.

@XenoBitch I'm trying to get my newborn to sleep on my shoulder but your comment made me laugh out loud and woke him up!

@mootymoo

His family should get to decide what is done and they have said they don't want fuss.

After the pandemic restrictions have significantly eased, a memorial service in a large location eg Hyde park where all bereaved families could be invited, seems far more appropriate. Over 100,000 have died, most have loved ones who are missing them and quite frankly, some were much younger and their death far less expected.

A separate thanksgiving for all those who have worked tirelessly throughout this pandemic especially the forgotten ones eg the food manufacturers, the refuse collectors, the technicians in hospitals that manage the oxygen supply, the vicars and funeral directors ...

As for the drs and nurses, an extra weeks leave to be taken before the end of 2022 seems a fitting gift from us taxpayers, it's small but should be appreciated more than clapping!

Exactly this! What about all the health care workers who went to work with insufficient ppe and died. They are the real heroes in all this.

My neighbour raised 1000's for the nhs and he died aged of it 53. Another age 50 who works for the NHS was at deaths door for nearly 2 weeks, thankfully he survived.

We need to remember all the unsung heroes as well not just a 100 year old man who had the media behind him.

I don't want to sound harsh but I'm getting fed up reading about this.

He was no doubt a lovely old boy who walked up and down outside his house. His family promoted what he was doing and people got wind of it and started
sponsoring him.

Because of what was going on in the country people gave money for the NHS. Yes, he raised a huge amount. This was more to do with the great work the NHS were doing.

He was then honoured by he queen, he made a record and lots of other things.

It's sad for his family but this is getting out of hand now!!!!!!

I think what I don't like the most is the undertone of brainless Britain First jingoistic white nationalism from some of those hero-worshipping Captain Sir Tom. Not his fault of course at all, but it goes hand in hand in my mind with the poppy madness and going on and on about WW1 and WW2 that goes on every year. The mawkish national outpouring of misplaced grief and urging to clap on doorsteps is just another part of it.

@Muncher75

Just that really. I’ve just been sent an email from change.org asking me to sign a petition to push for a state funeral for him. Now don’t get me wrong he was a remarkable man and an inspiration... but a state funeral? That will cost us, the taxpayer money we definitely cannot afford in the currant climate. Also I’m sure he’d rather the money go where it’s needed.

Oh I can't see why not - if Thatcher can have one, and Meggie marrying the Harry-meister, then why not a man who lived to a very advanced age abd whose small idea blossimed into something much larger? It won't be that expensive - there will hardly be anyone lining a route or anything for police to "police" as we are in lockdown

@XenoBitch

Someone on a FB group I am in has made a knitted Sir Tom which looks creepy as hell. For some reason, his hands and face are different colours and he appears to be wearing swimming goggles. And people are falling over themselves to order one.

Too far, I think! I agree there has been too much "bandwagonism". I agree the family, of course, should have the first say, but his death highlights this grim reality we all live in and continued seeking of hope to get through the days. Funerals are for the living, not the dead

And the 'calls' for ever more elaborate tributes serve to undermine the honour of his receiving a knighthood.

When did we start devaluing a knighthood from the Queen? When did honour stop being enough? Why does it now have to be about celebrity and noise and spectacle and the contagion of crowds? Maybe it's a metaphor for our time - a suitably toxic one.

@Changechangychange

This is like Princess Diana’s death all over again. State funeral, statue in Trafalgar Square, being buried in Westminister Abbey?

FFS this is just the tabloids enjoying winding up public hysteria. Like there is nothing else going on in the news at the minute.

Princess Diana's funeral was hysteria which escalated very incredibly quickly and which the current royals, e.g.Wills and Waity Katy are doing well out of as it was an agreed strategy to focus on William and Harty's roles and downplay Charles's

@Viviennemary

I am all for a state funeral for him if his family want it.

I'm all for a state funeral if his family are going to pay for it.

If I fancied a state funeral, could I just ask for one?

@JaimeLeeCurtains

And the 'calls' for ever more elaborate tributes serve to undermine the honour of his receiving a knighthood.

When did we start devaluing a knighthood from the Queen? When did honour stop being enough? Why does it now have to be about celebrity and noise and spectacle and the contagion of crowds? Maybe it's a metaphor for our time - a suitably toxic one.

I ageee, the hype is bordering on sensationalist hysteria again already. But I still can't see why an appropriate state funeral, cut back as it would be, should not happen

Embarrassing and vulgar. This is starting to be like Diana all over again.

@Missdotty he raised money for The NHS Charities.. not the NHS. The money tends to be spent on things like accommodation for parents of terminally ill children etc. Not actual medical resource.

Because if we didn't, no-one else would. Freedom is not "free"; people gave their lives for you to live as you do. Until you are in the position to do the same for someone else, STFU

And who are you @redpencil77? Who is this "we" you are talking about?

Bloke did good thing and fair play to him. but the state funeral, clapping, statue...... just stop FFS.

There are lots who do good thing for charities and have done for years.

Anyone else feel like they’re trapped in a dystopian film? The media have brainwashed us to get worked up about some nice guy we hadn’t heard of a year ago so much so that we’re demanding statues and a state funeral for him.
Tomorrow we will be sold a bad guy and we will be in the streets demanding they’re flogged.
Putting aside Covid, even if there was money to spend on a state funeral I can think of a hundred more appropriate ways to spend it. What about on more vaccines (maybe not even for ourselves but countries that can’t afford it?!), better funding for healthcare including mental health? An initiative to combat isolation and loneliness for all those living on their own throughout this? Pc or laptops for kids without them? More/better free school meals? Ppe for school staff so they can actually open schools?
Better public transport?... the list is endless.

@Graciebobcat

Because if we didn't, no-one else would. Freedom is not "free"; people gave their lives for you to live as you do. Until you are in the position to do the same for someone else, STFU

And who are you @redpencil77? Who is this "we" you are talking about?

"but it goes hand in hand in my mind with the poppy madness and going on and on about WW1 and WW2 that goes on every year. The mawkish national outpouring of misplaced grief and urging to clap on doorsteps is just another part of it."

Yes quite @BringBiscuits. Always hearing about fake news on social media but the traditional media is manipulative and full of shit.

The reason he shouldn't have a state funeral is because they are reserved for reigning monarchs (hence the 'state' part - head of state), and us plebs who accomplish extraordinary things, as has been said many times already.

Winston Churchill was the last, and while he had his (many) faults, and no offense to Tom Moore, but I can hardly compare the man who arguably helped save the world from Hitler with a man who did some laps in his garden.

They simply don't compare, and the hero worship is ridiculous. He did nothing more than millions do everyday (even less, in fact, if you look at all the people putting their lives on the line atm). The fact that he got lucky and his stunt took off because of his daughter's connections does not make him more worthy than any one else.

Don't confuse this with me delighting in his death, btw. He served his country well, and helped to raise a lot of money to try and help a lot of people. I'm sure he was a good man, and I hope he didn't suffer.

It's a tragedy he died in such an awful way. But no more of a tragedy than the over 2 million others who died in the same.

(Awaiting my deletion post...)