For those of you that are annoyed with the applauding, let me remind you - this is NOT a funeral.

[jillan]

This is a gathering of love and support.

[gateley]

1. Agree. nt

[PearliePoo2]

2. NOT a funeral event!

nt

[DinahMoeHum]

3. Amen, sister!

n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. many, many many recommends

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. many, many many recommends

[Dappleganger]

6. Well said.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

7. Because there hasn't been time for a funeral YET.

A little early for a rally.

[monmouth]

8. No. It's a Memorial remembering those who died and those who

are struggling for their lives. A pep rally it is not, are students not taught about proper decorum? Even POTUS and the First Lady were taken back when they entered the room...

[kelly1mm]

11. +1. Disrespectful IMO.

[Cleita]

12. What would be respectful to you?

Sack cloth and ashes? Get a life!

[kelly1mm]

16. No hooting for one. Am I not allowed an opinion?

[RainDog]

17. of course. but this isn't the first time people have reacted this way at such an event

because the point they're trying to get at is encouragement in spite of such a horrible event.

the first time I was at such an event and heard clapping, it was a little disconcerting to me too.

but I understood it - it was the only way the people there could express their support in a way that could be heard.

[kelly1mm]

18. Maybe I am just getting too old! "Hey kids, get off my lawn"!!!! nt

[Whisp]

20. of course you are. and if you happen to be at a function like this

act how you think is appropriate for yourself and don't expect others to do as you yourself choose

[ProdigalJunkMail]

21. don't worry...

i was called a right-winger for not liking the way it all went down...

sP

[CakeGrrl]

15. AND it is a celebration/recognition of those who did heroic deeds. It's a mix.

There will no doubt be individual funerals for the dead. Somehow I don't think the families expected a funereal occasion at such a large gathering in such a place.

The theme, as some public Tucson buses put on their route boards, is "Together We Thrive".

[malaise]

9. Absolutely

Now he speaks about the discourse.

[handmade34]

10. the people of Tucson

are hurting, angry and confused... the applause is an excellent release and a memoriam can be a very joyous event, remembering the fullness and wonderment of a person's life... I applaud the applauding

[ChazII]

13. Jillan, this fellow Arizonan

wants to say, "Thank you" for this thread and for speaking up on behalf of Arizona.

[scarletwoman]

14. Thank you! Rec'd. (nt)

[LiberalCatholic]

19. It was billed as a memorial service

which is, by definition, rememberance for the deceased. The President's tone was somber and appropriate. However, I felt that the cheers made it feel more like a campaign event then a memorial service. That said, I felt that it was a chance for Arizona to begin to heal and I wish them all peace in the future. Note: if I die in a horrible tragedy (God forbid) please do not whoop and holler at my memorial servece. After, however, I expect everyone to party on my behalf. Take time for tears, then move on...

[madmom]

24. It was billed by the university as a CELEBRATION of Life and Solidarity, the

media was the one who labeled it a memorial service.

[Brickbat]

22. Having attended the Wellstone memorial service, I understand completely the emotions and reactions

of the crowd in Tucson. I saw someone last night questioning why there were cheers when Christina Taylor Green's name was mentioned. This person was asking, "Why would they cheer for child getting murdered?"

Part of it, I think, is a reason you see at many political rallies -- when a politician is listing the offenses of his or her opponent, the fired-up and excited crowd clearly doesn't know how to react. Do they cheer, because their candidate is calling out the opposition? Do they boo, because the opposition supports these horrible things? For whatever reason, people don't know how to react to a political speech all the time. And I think that's what happened last night. They were full of emotion, and when someone reads off that little girl's name, what do you do to show your support? You cheer. You clap. You howl. You cry out or you weep.

I spent hours at the Wellstone memorial on a bleacher bench, approximately 100 months pregnant, standing and sitting and jumping up and down (really), sobbing, laughing, cheering, hugging, yelling in support and in disbelief. Crowd dynamics are an amazing thing at something as innocuous at a football game; obviously it's going to be much more touch-and-go, incomprehensible, unpredictable and fluid at something as devastating as a grief-stricken public memorial service.

Haters gonna hate, I guess. But the Wellstone memorial was so good for so many of us -- it was an excellent close to many excellent lives, and gave so many of us a chance to feel like we said good-bye to people we had seen only hours before. I'm sure that's how it was for many in Tucson.

[qanda]

23. In some parts of the Black community that was considered mild

When President Obama said Rep. Giffords had opened her eyes, folks would have been shouting and running around the building. LOL It didn't bother me at all.