Did I miss something, or just when........

RANT ON

Did I miss something, or just when did all this "Candle Light Vigil" crap, start.... Growing up in Seattle, WA I never heard of Candle Light Vigils. I never saw a Roadside Memorial when some Kid (person) had an accident, or skinned their Knee, on a bicycle. I knew Catholics, lite Candles in church, for Lost Souls, but when did all this Public Candle burning, start? Is this an extension of lighting Cigarette Lighters, and waving them around, in the Dark, at rock concerts, in the late 60's? Seems all I see on the News, lately is a bunch of whiney Folks, standing around, with Lite Candles, and bemoaning something, or another , that has effected them, or the neighborhood, or a bunch of Trash, stacked up at the site, of the latest Holywierd Car Crash, that kill an Idiot, driving to fast. Is this a way to earn fast cash, by selling Candles and Matches, in Poor Neighborhoods? If so I need to invest in a Candle, Making Biz, AGAIN, like when I was in my "Hippy Phase" and made, and sold, "Sand Candles" at Street Fairs, around western Washington State. It all seems so "Commercial".... Lite a Candle, and sooth your self-Tortured Soul, thinking that you have made a Statement, about something, or another... Please, Help me out here.... so What is the "DEAL" with this......

/Rant Off

 

Good Rant BT!!

 

As human beings we have a need to show solidarity with a cause, an event, a purpose. Is it really any different than union picketing, the flag waving at a 4th if July parade, bumper stickers for a political cause or candidate? I think the candlelight vigil is just a way of saying "I remember"

 

My question is, "Is expressing 'solidarity with something' a by lighting a candle, and standing around", a New Phenomonon, in the last decade, or did I miss out on the something as a Kid growing up in the 50s and 60s?

 

Quite possibly a regional thing that has spread and expanded. Candlelight memorial gatherings have always been common in New England, possibly due to our infamous thriftyness, gather out of doors to save heating cost LOL.

 

I think this morphed out of the practice at concerts as I do not recall these candle light vigils earlier in my youth. It seems to have become a mainstream activity for some types of people to show an expression such as grief over the loss of someone.

They pop up every time someone gets killed or shot by the cops around the Seattle area... which I think is organized by one political group or another... trying to use the event to garner attention for their cause... gives them a moment on the soap box with a crowd being used as a prop...

 

You are living up to your "Bad Monkey" moniker....

 

"I wasn't here for you when you were living, so please let this candle be a reminder of how fleeting life truly is."

 

I mean REALLY... Mr Pres. And his wife were on the NEWS Video, tonite...... It showed them lighting 26 candles, (for the NewTown Killed) and having a "Moment of Silence" to commemorate the 1 Year Anniversary, of the NewTown Shooting. Why would anyone commemorate the killing of children? Why would anyone publicize this kind of personal stuff? I think it is just more BS GradStanding, by the Campaigner in Chief. That is my opinion... YMMV....

 

Oh yeah, definitely. The "First Family" doesn't represent the average American family, they only represent the corporations and the Media is the PR firm.

 

I agree that the Obamas making their presence known at a vigil of any kind is blatantly political and speaks volumes about their integrity. Its interesting that the town of Sandy Hook is not having any commemorative event. It is the choice of that community to reject the spotlight on their grief. That, however, didn't stop the CT governor from requesting that every church and town bell across the state be rung at a designated hour, another clearly political gesture being foisted on us.

We all grieve for the lost lives of the Sandy Hook children, the families they have left behind, just as we grieve the loss of our own friends and family in our lives. Most of us, like the Sandy Hill families, choose to grieve privately.

However, for those who feel the need to gather as a community, sans politicians, this doesn't bother me at all any more than it bothers me that adherents of different religions choose to worship differently.

Our lives are filled with matters of greater importance than a vigil. We are confronted daily with an every escalating loss of liberty and freedom. Our livelihoods and ability to support ourselves and our families are in jeopardy from government encroachment. The value of our dollars is weakening every month and our ability to control our own destinies is in greater peril than ever before.

Given these truly important issues, the way people gather in fellowship bothers me not in the slightest as long as it doesn't infringe on my right to celebrate life or grieve death in a manner that suits me.

 

Sandy Hook parents and other citizens are keeping to themselves, rightly so. The rest of those that want face time are grinding those folks noses in the memory. Hateful stuff.