Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!

What do you reckon to all this "one-minute's silence" crap that seems to have sidled it's way into modern life? Every other day someone somewhere seems to want us to stop doing what we're doing and reflect on the fragility of life. I'm not knocking the basic concept, but isn't enough enough?

I have no problem with the whole 11th November thing (which is, incidentally, a two-minute silence) as it is Armistice day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War and an opportunity to pay our respects to those who lost their lives in all wars (and on all sides). Despite the fact that very soon there will be no-one left who actually remembers the 1914-18 war 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month is symbolic, a time for people to come together as one and remember.

But now we seem to have so many minutes of silence for various occasions that we are in danger of losing the ability to speak at all - or, perhaps more realistically and importantly, of losing all meaning behind our silent reflection. Sports events are my personal bugbear - George Best's demise was a sad (albeit predictable) occurence, but I like to think that he would have preferred the one-minute of applause that preceded 3 of the games over the weekend to the silence offered by the others.

And now we have an Australian back-bencher requesting a minute's silence for convicted drug smuggler Nguyen Tuong Van when he is executed on Friday. I cannot even begin to explain how fucking wrong that is, despite the fact that I am on record as being against the death penalty. It just kind of cheapens the whole idea even more.

It's time we realised that instead of constantly reflecting on death we should be living life. Remembering the past and learning from it is hugely important - dwelling on it just stunts personal and sociological growth. That's my opinion - tell me yours....

Cheers m'dears!