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I really dislike how people take a moment of silence and/or a time for prayer, and turn it into something else with the linked article on gun control[1]. Talkin
by duck 14y ago
I really dislike how people take a moment of silence and/or a time for prayer, and turn it into something else with the linked article on gun control[1]. Talking about actions is fine, but why can't people understand that those are two different things and shouldn't happen at the exact same time.
[1]: http://www.causes.com/causes/807161-stand-with-sandy-hook/actions/1716727 http://www.causes.com/causes/807161-stand-with-sandy-hook/ac...
- theorique 14y agoIt dishonors the memory of the murdered to politicize their deaths.
- kennu 14y agoIf you don't talk about these things when they happen, everybody soon just forgets the issue until the next incident.
- rdl 14y agoThere was a whole week where talking about the issue seemed to be everywhere -- that's a bit different from tying it to the "moment of silence" now. And it should continue over the next weeks/months.
- GiraffeNecktie 14y agoIf fixing the problem that caused their deaths is "political" I don't think the murdered would mind.
- marknutter 14y agoIf everyone agreed on what the fix is, you might be right. But since they don't, and it will likely result in political fighting, it's probably not appropriate to tie it to a moment of silence.
- GiraffeNecktie 14y agoIf it takes a discussion with people taking opposing viewpoints, let's get started. Now.
- davidw 14y agoBut please not on Hacker News. Thanks.
- rdl 14y agoI'd agree generally except that posting an inherently political call to action on the site essentially makes it the natural forum to discuss it. And, the tech community (specifically, Ron Conway) are probably the strongest promoters of this particular program right now, which is interesting given that the tech community has rarely been politically influential. At most it has been able to address things like crypto, CDA, and SOPA/PIPA; minimally effective so far at patents and immigration.
- pc86 14y agoThe last time legislation was posted in a knee-jerk fashion was 2001. Are you a fan of the Patriot Act? Nothing will be lost by having a sensible discussion and resisting the urge to pass whatever half-baked legislation gets written up the quickest.
- rm999 14y agoEven the NRA is (unsurprisingly) a supporter of 'gun violence prevention'. This moment of silence isn't advocating any specific solution, I don't see the controversy. I think almost every reasonable person can agree with "let's stop gun violence".
- marknutter 14y agoLet's stop death!
- rdl 14y agoIt is advocating the specific 3 proposals (100% NCIC checks on all transfers, criminalizing federally straw purchases, and 10rd magazine restrictions and AWB), actually. (EDIT: I guess that's Demand a Plan, but they're being promoted by exactly the same set of people in all the same places, and Demand a Plan includes the moment of silence, so it seems fair to consider them the same thing.)
- king_jester 14y agoTell that to folks murdered over political reasons.
- rm999 14y agoThis is the first mass shooting in a long time that is sparking action. That's a good thing; the countries' aversion to discussing gun control may be part of the reason we are having a moment of silence to begin with. I think of it as "let us honor their deaths with meaningful action rather than cheap words".
- benjohnson 14y agoMay I never mistake a child's coffin for a political soapbox.
- gbeeson 14y agoThat is well put.