Minute of silence - appropriate? Or not?

[bohemianbint]

I really hope this doesn't spark any arguments, but it's something I've been wondering about this morning.

Is it a good, useful thing to do? Will it "raise awareness"?

Or is it a bit strange? After all, we don't know that she isn't alright at the moment.

What do you think? Are you going to observe it?

I've got to join the list that agrees with MP. I think it really cheapens the fact that a minutes silence is for us to remember people who gave their lives for us.

Nothing can be gained from it.

Tasteless and inappropriate, and almost certainly reflects the fact that they have hired publicists (assuming that's true). An observation, not a judgement...

americantrish - sorry but your post is even more inappropriate. What is the point in saying that.

OMG, I really don't think this is right. Who on earth is advising them on this? The yellow ribbons, online diary and minute's silence all seem to have come about since 'professionals' were involved and I think they are really ill advised. They turning things inwards towards themselves. Wouldn't it be better to broaden this to a campaign about missing children including Madeleine. Keeping her face in the public eye is important but these initiatives turn a lot of people off.

I am a white, middle class (not sure about this, but hey we're all middle class now) parent of a three year old blonde haired, blue eyed girl who has felt very upset and totally sympathetic to the parents and yet I feel very uneasy - can imagine what other people feel.

I understood that the minutes silence wasnt originated by the family.
agree, it is not appropriate as generally used for the dead.

(lol at UCM)

I don't think we need one, I imagine she is on most parent's minds all the time

I don't think it's appropriate at any point in this situation. I think there are other ways of raising people's awareness and keeping it in everyone's minds. This is more likely to start putting people off.

No it's not appropriate. We don't even know tha outcome of this.

I thought minute silences were formal marks of respect for mass deaths.

I hugely hugely sympathise and this needs to be kept in the media to find her, but not this way. The news evry day has stories which would command this otherwise, and the overload of them would dilute the significance.

This is a sickening idea. Not only does it assume that the child is dead but it's yet another gimmick which reduces the dignity of the family and the efforts of the police to find her.

The only possible reason I could think to do this would be to give all those people who have adopted this story as their tragedy, a chance to show their commitment to it.

I think it is inappropraite. A minute's silence is to mark someone's death (or a group of people), not to raise awareness.

Very inappropriate, IMO.

Thought it was a mark of respect for the dead, tbh.

Think it's really inappropriate and in bad taste seens as it's usually done to mark a death/mass death and we don't know the outcome of this yet - it's an act of remeberence so can't understand why they would even think about doing this.

hana - didn't think of that - only thought those at the match would see it!!

My OH's workplace enforced this today - it wasn't even mentioned at mine (large multinational) and normally we seem to observe just about everything going - I wasn't even aware of it til I got home and he asked me if we'd done it too.

Agree wtih all those who think it's a bit odd. I associate a minute's silence with remembrance of the dead, I'm still hoping she's found alive and well...

I wouldn't support this minute for silence, but others I have taken part in and I think they're a good idea.

There was a silence for 9/11 a few days after that took place. At the time, I worked in a cash and carry which had a very varied employee and customer base. It was actually really nice (in an odd way) to see so many people of so many different religions and faiths standing united for the same thing.

The one for the rail bombings in London, I was pg at the time, and off work. I watched the news reports showing the different scenes and remember getting emotional about it.

I think that silences should be reserved for events like that & for war rememberence.

I don't know... sigh. I can see that as each day goes by, the story slips further down the main news channels' agendas, which must be heartbreaking for the family. So anything which keeps it in the public eye - like the silence, online diaries, ribbons etc. can't be a bad thing - I can't imagine being in their shoes but can imagine that I'd do anything to keep the issue alive in everyone's mind in the hope that people keep looking.

innapropriate imo.
silences are for those lost in the war etc.
and when was it decided she is dead?
have i missed something?

feck it!
*inappropriate even.

It is inappropriate to us because it is not our daughter that has been kidnapped. They are just trying to keep the momentum of the search going and publicity is vital.
It IS inappropriate but totally understandable given their circumstances.

Also to the parents the loss of their child is the most important tragic event that has ever occurred.