There actually are some salient points that come up in this thread -
Firstly, Hillsborough aside, that football has decided that as it is a part of society it will mourn the losses of key figures and the amount silences and tributes in general, we have more minute silences quite regularly and to be honest most of the time it's not a problem, it's more like PR to ensure that clubs pay their respects like everyone else, it's probably right but it does feel like a shift from, say, 10-15 years back.
Public outpourings and tributes are an odd thing though, they may show solidarity and respect but when those people are not directly linked to those events, how long does one mourn and what's the best way to do that? The Diana funeral for example evoked a strange sense of national mourning which, at times, I didn't feel was right, I don't know if that was just me and apologies if it was! I think we've become more emotive as a society.
Secondly there are many ways to remember the dead and mourn the loss of people, there are times and places before the football game. This weekend Liverpool host Man U and we all know there's a hatred between them, if Munich and Hillsborough fans get sung it will become a bigger news story than the game, talksport & the tabloids will be literally filling their boots with opinions lined up to decry the state of the game.
Personally, while I totally sympathise with the families of the 96 and the injustice they faced over all those years I am not sure next Saturday at Anfield is the time and place to lay tribute to the 96, there is a flame and memorial at the corner of the Anfield ground where fans can pay their respects and it's been there the whole time since the tragedy. But in honesty it's not for me to say or decide on it and I hope that the tribute goes well, does justice to the families and that both sets of fans don't bring their club and our game in to disrepute with offensive chants.
Thirdly there is a very salient point that Smoked Salmon makes about 'fatigue' and it's that no matter how valid a message is it's human nature to ignore it more as time goes on and even tire of hearing it. That's not to say it's not an important message. For example a lot of broadcasters like Comic Relief needed to serious re-evaluate how many charity segway films were played out per hour because the public become immune to the message. It's not so much that the amount of tributes pisses anyone off or offends, it's more like that more people become disengaged from that grieving process over time in my view.
Fourthly and finally (thank god you're all saying!) The Holocaust is absolutely different to Hillsborough in terms of scale, intention and global effect & how the events should be perceived. Having visited one of the camps even now I struggle to picture at the enormity of what intentionally happened, while there has to be a massive amount of grief about the murder of 6 million people, the message is a greater one, it's a lesson for future generations about the dangers of how far hatred can go and the destruction it causes.
Hillsborough was a tragedy, a horrible cover up and a terrible slight against Liverpool fans, really it's for them to decide how they want to mark this occasion now.
Firstly, Hillsborough aside, that football has decided that as it is a part of society it will mourn the losses of key figures and the amount silences and tributes in general, we have more minute silences quite regularly and to be honest most of the time it's not a problem, it's more like PR to ensure that clubs pay their respects like everyone else, it's probably right but it does feel like a shift from, say, 10-15 years back.
Public outpourings and tributes are an odd thing though, they may show solidarity and respect but when those people are not directly linked to those events, how long does one mourn and what's the best way to do that? The Diana funeral for example evoked a strange sense of national mourning which, at times, I didn't feel was right, I don't know if that was just me and apologies if it was! I think we've become more emotive as a society.
Secondly there are many ways to remember the dead and mourn the loss of people, there are times and places before the football game. This weekend Liverpool host Man U and we all know there's a hatred between them, if Munich and Hillsborough fans get sung it will become a bigger news story than the game, talksport & the tabloids will be literally filling their boots with opinions lined up to decry the state of the game.
Personally, while I totally sympathise with the families of the 96 and the injustice they faced over all those years I am not sure next Saturday at Anfield is the time and place to lay tribute to the 96, there is a flame and memorial at the corner of the Anfield ground where fans can pay their respects and it's been there the whole time since the tragedy. But in honesty it's not for me to say or decide on it and I hope that the tribute goes well, does justice to the families and that both sets of fans don't bring their club and our game in to disrepute with offensive chants.
Thirdly there is a very salient point that Smoked Salmon makes about 'fatigue' and it's that no matter how valid a message is it's human nature to ignore it more as time goes on and even tire of hearing it. That's not to say it's not an important message. For example a lot of broadcasters like Comic Relief needed to serious re-evaluate how many charity segway films were played out per hour because the public become immune to the message. It's not so much that the amount of tributes pisses anyone off or offends, it's more like that more people become disengaged from that grieving process over time in my view.
Fourthly and finally (thank god you're all saying!) The Holocaust is absolutely different to Hillsborough in terms of scale, intention and global effect & how the events should be perceived. Having visited one of the camps even now I struggle to picture at the enormity of what intentionally happened, while there has to be a massive amount of grief about the murder of 6 million people, the message is a greater one, it's a lesson for future generations about the dangers of how far hatred can go and the destruction it causes.
Hillsborough was a tragedy, a horrible cover up and a terrible slight against Liverpool fans, really it's for them to decide how they want to mark this occasion now.
