Really? You've never been to a football match where a minutes' silence has been impeccably observed? I'm struggling to believe this mate, because I've witnessed it loads of times. In fact I'd say that the number of times they've been spoiled is dwarfed by the number of times they've been properly observed.
Remembering Nov11th at football is a recent thing- late 90s onwards. Demand for showy public 'me too' vicarious grieving from the emotionally-incontinent and the post Diana generation.
Iv'e seen both to be honest... I think it's a personal thing. I'd love to be applauded at my own funeral. You deny me that ?
It's not just 'applauding the dead' is it? It's applauding the bravery shown by young men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice which means we can live a privileged lifestyle. Obviously an applause and silence are different means of showing respect, but neither are crass.
No, I wouldn't deny you it. However, having a one minute silence is not, and never has been, "a personal thing"; it's an act of communal remembrance, and it's a tradition which I believe we should preserve.
Applause is not a means of showing respect. At best, you could maybe shoehorn "appreciation" in there, but it's not respect. I completely accept the fact that people act out of good intentions, but it's not right.
I love the fact everyone is thinking that we will be clapping every time now just because it has happened once...
As I suggested earlier, check out the dictionary definition of applause and show me where it mentions the word "respect." The fact that you think you are being respectful by applauding in Remembrance doesn't mean that you actually are.
