Day of mourning for the pope

[Peadar]

Mentioned this on another post but the fact one of the most communist countries in the world 'Cuba' is having one puts the 26 county government to shame.

I don't feel ashamed, as an Irish citizen, of my elected government.
People can mourn if they so wish but the country doesn't need to shutdown.
Lets keep things in perspective here.

[cullenswood]

As far as I know a lot of the countries "putting us to shame" are still having businesses open during their day of mourning, which is proper order.

[Gareth]

As much as most wont admit it, most people I know that want the day of mourning just want a day off. Plain and simple. So they really need to think about are they really going to mourn, or just lie in and have an extra day off!!

[Dotsy]

From listening to the radio this morning it seems that a day of mourning in Cuba does not mean that everything closes. Sporting events are cancelled but people still go to work.

A day of mourning in most countries means that flags are flown at half mast and there is a period of silence observed. We will have been flying flags here at half mast for 6 days by Friday. A period of silence to be observed by people if they want wherever they are would be a good idea in my opinion. But I don't agree that the place has to close down. People who want to mark the funeral could go to early mass on Friday if they want. I am sure also that most employers would allow staff to take an hour or two off in the morning if they wanted to attend mass or watch the funeral on TV. THis could be facilitated in work places. People can pay their respects and mourn without closing down every business.I felt the same way about the day of mourning for 9/11. I was in work myself that day.

Not everybody in Ireland is a catholic. In my office there are two Irish and two Japanese staff. While I am sure the Japanese staff are sorry to see someone having died they won't be spending Friday mourning the pope's death. Will we have a day of mourning next time that a senior leader of the Jewish. Islamic, Buddist faith dies. I don't think so.

[noby]

As I said earlier, when a day of mourning is mentioned here, people automatically think 'day-off'.

I think Bertie could have said Friday will be an official day of mourning, consisting of flags at half mast, minute silence etc. Economy wouldn't suffer, people who have no interest wouldn't be overly affected, but the day would be marked.

For me, I'm not so worried about having to work on Friday, but it would have been nice to recognise Friday as a day of mourning.

[pete]

Not everybody in Ireland is a catholic. In my office there are two Irish and two Japanese staff. While I am sure the Japanese staff are sorry to see someone having died they won't be spending Friday mourning the pope's death. Will we have a day of mourning next time that a senior leader of the Jewish. Islamic, Buddist faith dies. I don't think so.

I think that sums it up. Many people from different faiths have respect for a world leader dying.

Its open to debate whether the Pope has had a positive impact on the world but probably nor the time to discuss.

[Macy]

I voted yes, because I want a day off. Doesn't really effect me personally at all.

Bertie can put whatever spin he wants on this, but he set the precedent with the September 11th Day of Mourning. He can't pick and choose (bit like his multiple minutes silence previously). IBEC and ISME didn't have a problem with a day of mourning when it was one of their business partners that would see Ireland in good light

[Gareth]

I think the post by Dotsy says it all. If people were told Friday was a day of mourning but you have to come to work, they would grumble and moan that they didn't get the day off. Its kinda funny that way. Respect the memory of the dead, as long as it bags me a day off.

I am off work friday anyways with an annual leave day so it makes no difference in that sense to me.

[corkharps]

No. Simple as that. Their shouldn't have been one for sept 11th either. The only reason for a day of mourning should be a tragedy directly affecting this country or its citizens. I'm sorry to see anyone die, but some polish fella living in Rome has sweet FA to do with my life

Spot on!.I'm getting sick and tired of people trying to 'outCatholic' each other since Friday!

[liam88]

Spot on!.I'm getting sick and tired of people trying to 'outCatholic' each other since Friday!

Bit bemused by this comment.......the Pope was loved by so many mor epeople than Catholics e.g. the many Jews he hid from the Nazi's durning the holocaust..............they and their children/granchildren are mourning our Pope right now but I'm sure they are not pretending to be Catholic

God Bless the Pope-may he live on through those hwo's lives he saved!

[Macy]

Bit bemused by this comment.......the Pope was loved by so many mor epeople than Catholics e.g. the many Jews he hid from the Nazi's durning the holocaust..............they and their children/granchildren are mourning our Pope right now but I'm sure they are not pretending to be Catholic

God Bless the Pope-may he live on through those hwo's lives he saved!

Dodgy comment Liam, considering his failure to release papers that would show the extent of the Church's contacts/collaboration with the Nazi's. However, if people want to go down that line can they save it for next week, please?

[dahamsta]

Exactly, could we just drop the deep and heavy discussions for a week please, have a bit of respect? And the "I just want a day off" comments too?

adam