Minute silence in schools at noon to remember the famine. Why can't we move on?

[Congalltee]

Schools to honour Famine dead | BreakingNews.ie

The famine/An Gorta Mór was a terrible event in our history, but is it not crass tokenism to force school children engage in a minutes silence?

If the children could transfer this artificial anger into meaningful action on famine in Africa/Climate Change/Population control/wealth inequality, some good might come of it, but it has the appearance of blamings others for our woes.

Just as the Tony Blair apology for the Famine was false, as he murdered in Iraq, can we please not engage in this nonsense?

[bobbysands81]

I think it's a superb thing... at the very least it should make kids more socially aware. An Gorta Mór was the probbaly the most significant thing that ever happened this country and effects the country in many ways to this day... the present Property bubble for example.

However, I do take your point about tokenism. The use of the word "Famine" is completely wrong as well and sure never be used.

[buachailrua]

What Famine? Theres always been plenty of food in Ireland. Maybe if this minutes silence gets the kids to question where all the food went it might be worthwhile. Things are not always as they seem..............

[The OD]

Schools to honour Famine dead | BreakingNews.ie

The famine/An Gorta Mór was a terrible event in our history, but is it not crass tokenism to force school children engage in a minutes silence?

If the children could transfer this artificial anger into meaningful action on famine in Africa/Climate Change/Population control/wealth inequality, some good might come of it, but it has the appearance of blamings others for our woes.

Just as the Tony Blair apology for the Famine was false, as he murdered in Iraq, can we please not engage in this nonsense?

Now now Congaltee, you know you cant *ever* say anything about the famine unless its to remind us all of how bad it was.....now say three deckets of 'The Fields of Athenry' and go on a 48 hour fast whilst wearing a tricolour cloak.

[Half Nelson]

Delighted to hear it.
The famine is still a hidden cancer in our society, with all the problems that go with repressed trauma. We waited a hundred years before even acknowledging it happened.
We suffer from a classic national psychosis and like all such victims we're the last to recognise it and the first to run from it.

[inchicore_republican]

There was no famine in Ireland.

[Tomas Mor]

With a lot of people it is turned into a sort of Anti Brit thing. But lest anyone forget the large middle class and catholic farmers were well off during that time,and exported food. What was at issue here were market forces such as we had during property bubble. And in an age of instant communications, famine happens these very days.

[Half Nelson]

There was no famine in Ireland.

Can we get past this please? Famine has many causes, some natural, some man-made.
Famine: A severe shortage of food resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death.
: An acute insufficiency.

I think it qualifies, whatever the causes.

[inchicore_republican]

Can we get past this please? Famine has many causes, some natural, some man-made.
Famine: A severe shortage of food resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death.
: An acute insufficiency.

I think it qualifies, whatever the causes.

There was plenty of food in Ireland at the time, where did it go?

[The Underdog]

Schools to honour Famine dead | BreakingNews.ie

The famine/An Gorta Mór was a terrible event in our history, but is it not crass tokenism to force school children engage in a minutes silence?

If the children could transfer this artificial anger into meaningful action on famine in Africa/Climate Change/Population control/wealth inequality, some good might come of it, but it has the appearance of blamings others for our woes.

Just as the Tony Blair apology for the Famine was false, as he murdered in Iraq, can we please not engage in this nonsense?

It was the Irish Holocaust.

It is crucial that it remains a strong folk memory in Irish society, and it is our duty and responsibility to pass those folk memories on.

My Grandfather passed onto me the direct experience of his Grandfather's family during the famine, and God willing, I will do the same.

Even if a famine can’t happen in this country again, it's crucial Irish youth continue to see and understand the injustice and causes of foreign famines.