If you didn't understand the cheering tonight, then you don't understand young America

[jpak]

that is how they roll

signed jpak

old fart

[Codeine]

1. Most of the young people I know have more sense than that. nt

[ecstatic]

2. Maybe it's an Arizona thing?

:shrug:

[RainDog]

10. This is not the first time such an event has occurred and not the first time people have clapped

I know this from my own experience.

in such a situation, people are trying to find ways to express support - and the only way this is done here is by clapping.

this event was at the University, not in a church or any such thing.

people were celebrating the heroes and the good news about Gifford's condition update.

if it bothers someone - they probably shouldn't watch these things because that's how people respond in these situations. again, this is not the first time.

[blueamy66]

42. What kind of AZ thing?

Do tell....

Tucson is a college town...thank God....as the victims got the best care available at the UMC.

People grieve differently. My family and friends all sat on the patio and smoked cheap cigars in my Dad's memory.....even the younger family members.

How dare anyone tell another person how to express their grief and/or support.

[Fuzz]

4. I hope so. My kids are being raised to at least.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

31. It's not a respect or disrepect issue.

It's cultural. People mourn differently and always have. Irish wakes are often very celebratory. Nothing wrong with that.

[jpak]

9. ugh - they meant no disrespect, they gave voice to their emotions in THEIR honest way

times change, customs change.

The final musical presentation at the service tonight was a Maine Shaker hymn from the 19th Century.

Each American generation has its time and way.

yup

[roguevalley]

13. actually, it was a memorial, a wake, a celebration. People clap and

cheer for life, for affirmation, for joy. I don't mind a bit and I've seen a ton of these over my lifetime. It isn't a young or old thing to me. its a fuck you, we're still here and get used to it thing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Been to a few Native, Irish wakes I take it?

That is what this struck me as... exactly that.

[roguevalley]

45. yeah. the mourning is less important than telling the family and

the world how wonderful the person/people were.

[jpak]

26. Wakes and memorial services are emotional gatherings

I have never attended one where they handed out an official rule book.

Young people today have their own rules.

Tonight's memorial was heartfelt emotion - it was not disrespect.

It was a celebration of life.

yup

[roguevalley]

46. all the hooplah over the hooplah reminds me of the celebration

of the Wellstones. too bad people are so damned picky. these people got celebrated.

[stevenleser]

43. People of different cultures deal with funerals and death differently. Its arrogant to assume yours

is necessarily the right one. If you think the Arizona memorial was raucus, dont ever go to a funeral in New Orleans.

[Cerridwen]

3. Or the west.

We're a tad more casual out here.

signed ~Cerridwen

native Westerner

[Codeine]

5. This born in California/raised in Wyoming boy knows better. nt

[Cerridwen]

11. California ain't west, son. It's a nation unto itself.

Mostly I'm joking.

I'm native Nevadan from a long line of ranchers and farmers. City-bred in spite of it. I've been around people from all over the world and our cultures vary by country, region, state, city, town, and...well, you get the idea. Then there's the religion versus religion; we've got LDS, Baptist, Irish Catholic, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Church of the Nazarene, Jack Mormons, and a few others in my family mix.

My family is more casual on my mom's side; native Nevadans, versus my dad's side; native New Yorkers. We've had these discussions about the "proper" way to do things since I was a child. No one ever "won".

The memorial tonight is one of the ways in which we honor those we love and admire. There are other more solemn and "proper" ways, but this was the way it was done tonight. I felt right t' home.

My mom passed in August last year. "Take me out to the ballgame" was one of the songs I selected for her service. It was in honor of my dad, for my mom, as she had missed him so much since he passed in '89. My goofy, mixed up family loved it. And they got it. It wasn't "proper" but it fit.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. I know what you speak off

nothing like going to a WEDDING in California, and seeing people in suits and ties, as well as shorts and T-Shirts.

Yep, it is the West. I was right at home.

[Cerridwen]

25. Depends on the wedding.

One of my cousins "married well" and her Catholic wedding was a real snoozer; but everyone was "properly" attired.

Then there was my wedding - back when dirt was new - it was a bit...rowdier. :D My sister's wedding was rowdier still.

I get to experience the spectrum in my family. LOL I won't even start on my friends' weddings. :rofl:

[SpiralHawk]

34. Ms. SpiralHawk insisted on 'La Bamba" for her funeral service

and I was more than happy to engage one of her dear friends to perform it -- but then we also did Brahms Piano Concerto #2 - 2nd movement...for that was her as well...

[Cerridwen]

37. I also selected a wide spectrum of songs.

Though I don't remember the others nearly as much as "Take me out to the ballgame". I think I heard mom chuckle.

[jpak]

38. :)

n/t

[Cerridwen]

39. Thank you. n/t

[Dappleganger]

6. This old lady loves cheering too.

But yeah, I get it.

[spanone]

7. from one old fart to another.....recommended

[madokie]

8. I get it

the heck to those who don't understand, may they someday see

[progressivebydesign]

12. I raised my daughters with the ability to know what's offensive.

And they would have cringed to hear people whistling and hooting at a memorial service. They're in their 20s and would be mortified by it.

[Dappleganger]

15. That's nice. I raised our kids to roll with the punches...

laugh with those who laugh, mourn with those who mourn.

[RichGirl]

27. Me too!

God...I just don't know why people take it upon themselves to decide how others should behave. It's best to behave the way you feel is right and let others make that decision for themselves.

[RainDog]

22. hopefully they were also raised to understand the difference

between a university-centered event and one at a church.

this was not at a church. it was in an auditorium at the university where members of the university had just helped to save the life of a national politician.

I'm sure your daughters can understand the difference between celebrating the good that can be found in such a moment with a funeral for the victims that will be held at a later time.

but, rather than speak for them, why don't you ask them if they understand the difference?

[Luminous Animal]

29. A memorial service is NOT a funeral.

It is a moment of affirmation for those we miss and those we can still be with. A person cannot be properly memorarialized without both laughter and tears.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

30. It's cultural.

People mourn differently. Nothing wrong with that.

[phleshdef]

16. Its Tuscon's tragedy. If the people there want to cheer the memory of the victims and the survivors.

...its no one else's god damn business. Period.

[Luminous Animal]

17. Clapping does not merely signal cheering, it signals affirmation.

I've been to dour silent memorials, and I've been to free expression memorials. Though raised on the dour side, I prefer the free expression kind. I prefer tears, laughter, applause, and collapse - we deserve it all as human beings.

[uppityperson]

21. +1, thank you.

[RainDog]

23. honestly, this controversy is the silliest thing I've seen here lately

if you want to get your panties in a wad over how people deal with a mass shooting - maybe your priorities are a little off.

[Luminous Animal]

35. At my 17 year old cousin's funeral (oh so many years ago) there was laughter and tears

She died suddenly in an accident and her funeral was attended by about 200 people. Members of her "gang" of 20 or so friends got up to speak about her and many related hilarious stories. And people, appropriately responded with laughter and tears. And her parents were not only smiled, now and again, through their deep unimaginable devastating grief but also expressed relief that her friends spoke about the best of her --- her love for life, her great sense of humor, and her goofiness.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Off to the greatest with you

this was a classic clash of cultures.

[WCGreen]

20. That was my take as well....

From another old fart...

[southernyankeebelle]

24. I am an old lady and I want you to know I LOVE THE YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY ARE THE FUTURE.

[jillan]

28. My daughter told me she laughed, applauded and balled her eyes out while watching Obama's speech.

She's 21.

Our President touched every emotion tonite. He did a beautiful job at a very difficult time.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

40. The word is "bawled her eyes out:.",

"Bawl" means to cry.

"Ball" as a verb means something else.

The only non-sexual meaning for "ball" as a verb, that I have seen, is in the semi-obscure song "Ballin' the Jack" done by Gilda Radner in a movie.

[snooper2]

47. It's also used as a compliment, as shown by Liza Minnelli

Hello! Balls to you my fine sir!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BoDFAOhbbQ&feature=related




:)

[Clio the Leo]

32. Dorwin's Stoddard's daughters smiled as they talked about their father's "homecoming."

..... it speaks to their faith more than anything but not EVERY celebration of life is mournful...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z37oCs0lggg&feature=related

[EFerrari]

33. If you're watching a memorial and reviewing behavior, you're doing it wrong. nt

[pacalo]

36. Yes, indeed!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

41. David Gergen is being a jerk.

Telling the people at the memorial service how they were not acting appropriately by applauding and cheering Obama.

Too bad, David. :shrug:

[pacalo]

50. Sour grapes. It was uplifting & the atmosphere was like putting arms around the victims

& encouraging survivors to live more positively, more constructively in honor of those who were killed.

[stevenleser]

44. Happy to agree with you here. n/t

[AspenRose]

48. Right on!

:yourock:

[PBS Poll-435]

49. With so much good news coming out regarding the survivors and their recovery,

I would have cheered too.

This was an event of healing for Tucson, Arizona, and the US.



How dare anyone criticize how people mourn and celebrate the lives of both the fallen and those who survived?