Actually, I wasn't talking about accidental deaths, I was talking about murders. Awful murders happen every day in this country.
As for collective mourning.....I understand the kids at VT wanting others to share their pain. They’re young and their world has been changed for all time.
I won’t criticize them.
I'm not criticizing folks who have a personal connection to the tragedy. It's the folks who don't. I have a friend who is this type. After 9/11 she immediately drove to NYC because she "had to be there with the victims" even though she didn't know anyone. She was one of the people urging me to wear the colors today even though she has no connection to VT. Whenever there is a tragedy, she has to be part of it. Just my opinion but I think its weird to act like this when you have no personal connection to a situation. I have a parent right now who is terminally ill with cancer. I know what personal grief is and there is no comparison. At least I'm honest about it.
What do you have a connection with? Do you think it was "weird" to have a connection with the Oklahoma City bombing? 9/11? Flight 93? the deaths of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan? The Katrina victims?
What I find more disturbing is the atomization of our society and the lack of a national identity. It has become all about me and unless I have a direct personal connection to an event, it isn't relevant or important. If a plane goes into the Pentagon and I live in LA, so what? We are becoming less a nation, and more a collection of individuals and strangers.
"No man is an island, entire of itself every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were,
as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind
and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee."
Yup, your friend is weird.
Prayers for your parent. Eight years ago my hubby was diagnosed with a very serious type of cancer. Not expected to survive........as I said, it’s eight years. Some minor complications recently, having nothing to do with the cancer, but surgical issues.
Enjoy and cherish every day with your parent.