The Minute of Silence

The minute of silence is traditionally a worldwide period of silence to represent and show respect for a tragedy. People stop work to observe a moment of silence at 11am on November 11, which is the time and date when hostilities formally ended after more than four years of battle during World War I. Today the moment of silence is used for tragedies such as all the heart-breaking terrorist attacks that have occurred during the last few years. However, some recent searches show that this traditional act may be losing its meaning through the use of people using this too much. Is the minute of silence overused?

Armistice Day is on 11 November and is also known as Remembrance Day.

It marks the day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month; in 1918.A two-minute silence is held at 11am to remember the people who have died in wars. There is also Remembrance Sunday every year, which falls on the second Sunday in November. The anniversary is used to remember all the people who have died in wars - not just World War One but also includes World War Two and other battles. No wonder people pay respect for this people that have fought and served their country, incident people left their families and loved ones to serve their country, how brave.

But then again what’s one minute going to do? Some people believe they should be silent to pay respect but don’t you think it’s getting rather pathetic? Should we start having moments of silence for people getting injured whilst playing a sport or what about someone falling off a bike? Oh wait, we have. Manchester City Football clubs German magician in midfield ilkay Gündogan injured his ligaments a fortnight before Christmas against Watford and gets ruled out for approximately 9 months. Following this Manchester City wore back to front tops with the player name printed on it to pay respect for their big loss in midfield but that isn’t enough. They then decide to have a moment of silence for a player that got injured doing his job. Should people pay respect if plumbers get injured whilst doing their jobs? Isn’t it getting too much?

Saudi Arabia’s national football team got criticised for failing to observe a minute’s silence held before their match against Australia in Adelaide. The Socceroo’s lined up in the centre of the pitch before the World Cup qualifier and held the moment silence as respect to the two Australians killed in the terrorist attack in London at that weekend. As they did so, the Saudi Arabia team continued jogging, passing the ball between each other and taking their positions on the pitch. Pictures from the match show a single Saudi player, Salman al-Faraj, appearing to stand facing the Australia team with his hands behind his back. Isn’t that quite disrespectful? A sense of mocking a national team and two innocent people. The two people that died were working in London and moved there for jobs, one was a nanny the other was a nurse. Both jobs involve working with people and helping people and for the innocent people to die in a terrorist attack and not get any respect or membrane for it is shocking even worse, mocked. Is this too far?

Some people just can’t get their mind around what a moment of silence will do. The tragedy is still going to be the same nothing will change just because people were quiet for a moment is it. Paying a moment will do absolutely nothing. It’s getting over used year after year for pathetic reasons.

Hence why I have come to the conclusion that the moment of silence is over used in my opinion for reasons such as people getting injured for doing their job, but for innocent people to get hurt or brave people that fought for our country that is when people should pay respect. I find it appalling that people get paid respect for pulling a ligament or getting hurt and yet still survive . There’s no need to pay respect for that at all.