>>>
KUDOS to President Obama on a wonderful speech. Well done. >>>
>>>I'll admit, it was a good speech. It was obvious that they arranged the service to give Obama the biggest opportunity to talk (sharing the news on Gabrielle Gifford opening her eyes, and talking in detail about each of the individuals who were killed).
>>>
>>>But there was something about the service in general that bothered me. It was just too much of a pep-rally and a bit artificial. I'll admit I'm biased, because one of the deceased was a 9 year old and I have a 20 month old, and that has stuck with me all week.
>>>
>>>Yes, I understand the need for some type of inspiration - I just thought the service (and I watched the entire replay of it late last night) was a bit over the top.
>>
>>I agree completely. I noticed that during some parts of the speeches, the crowd was somber and reflective. However, during a large portion, the cheering was totally inappropriate (like a rally) and I almost turned it off myself.
>>
>>Also, it appears t-shirts were provided to all of the attendees:
>>
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//110112/480/urn_publicid_ap_org_ffb533d16d6548058df1085e682a679d/>>
>>Not sure who provided them or why.
>
>Jeez, for a minute I thought that people had actually worn them to the funeral.
>Placing them in wherever it was held is bad enough. It was a funeral not a rock concert FCS
I think wearing the T shirts would decrease their value when they start turning up on eBay ...
Charles Hankey
Though a good deal is too strange to be believed, nothing is too strange to have happened.
- Thomas Hardy
Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm-- but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.
-- T. S. Eliot
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote.
- Ben Franklin
Pardon him, Theodotus. He is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.