As a country, we seem to have gone from the extreme of 'stiff upper lip' to a sort of communal weeping and wailing. The example of Princess Diana's death and funeral is perhaps the extreme. But we've seen in the last week or so what happens when someone makes even mild criticism of Hillsborough campaigners/commemorations.
The on-pitch heart attack of Fabrice Muamba brought forth a swell of public widespread emotion and, apparently, religious fervour.
We've seen vigils for all sorts of things/people in a way that would not previously have happened.
So ...
Why are such things happening?
Now, to clarify a couple of points. I think, in the Muamba case, there was a lot of genuine shock. a) because it happened on live TV and b) because he's a supposedly fit (ie healthy) young man. But that does not explain the sudden apparent explosion in religious sentiment. Personally, I found it shocking myself and I have mentioned it more than once on social media – but I didn't suddenly start to pray or urge others to.
Second, it clearly isn't just a 'Liverpool thing' – so we <b>ain't</b> going down that route on this thread.
Personally, I remember exactly where I was when Hillsborough occurred and I remember talking to a fellow football fan on the Monday (neither of us a Liverpool supporter) and our mutual reaction being: 'There but for the grace of god go I'. I signed the petition to have the files on Hillsbrough released. But I cannot see why some people would get so upset at the idea that it's ridiculous to refuse to play (work) on the anniversary of an event, when we quite clearly do not extend that to plenty of other tragedies and disasters. Quite seriously – what would be the reaction if London's Tube and bus drivers refused to work every 7/7?
The Diana thing was utterly weird. With Hillsborough, it's mostly people who feel a real and personal connection with the city/club, yet how many people had ever even met Diana? I watched the cortege out of curiosity and there were people keening – you could hear it.
Then, of course, the
Daily Mail had to try to drum up something even remotely comparable when the Queen Mum popped her clogs.
Weirder and weirder.
What's it all about?
Is this a kind of collective response to the demise of other collective, communal experiences, such as organised religion?
It isn't just a result of communications technology and the enormous growth of social media – Hillsborough predates that, as does Diana's death.
Is it bread and circuses, manufactured by – someone? – to distract us?
Is it some general weakening of 'moral fibre'?
Is it part of a culture that, in modern times at least, never seems to do things with anything but extremes – just as, say, in terms of sex, we seem to combine prudery and prurience and avoid any sense of pragmatism or common sense.
I really don't know the answers and find it all makes me shake my head.
So take it away.
