There’s nothing to say, nothing to be done in these moments that shock us to our core
All you can do is maybe walk around a bit and blow off a little energy while trying to process this devastating news

Or if they tell you to pray, I guess you pray

Yes it’s awful

every time I see young people go before their time, I'm reminded of my own daughter's passing.

I think it's just you never get over some things. The world is full of reminders.

And a virtual hug for you CatWoman.

I am so sorry for your pain - I never had children, so cannot begin to imagine the anguish and despair of losing a child

I am so sorry

Only hugs.

A different kind of sad from the reason they were told to do so, but sad nonetheless.

Peer-pressured piety-signaling situations are loathsome.

A 'moment of silence to do as you wish' would be fine ...

as that was my father's advice to me at one time

because I said nothing of the sort.

My complaint is about directing a specific personal behavior in a coercive situation. It is NOBODY'S place to make that direction to any person -- regardless of it's efficacy.

the news that a number of peers and mentors died in an accident is a hijacking of sympathy and empathy -- an inappropriate one at that -- and piles one kind of sadness upon another kind of sadness in this situation.

And I notice you did not substantiate your accusation vis-a-vis futility, but rather changed the subject. I will assume you concede you cannot do so.

Last edited Mon Jan 27, 2020, 04:05 AM - Edit history (1)

Your need to express superiority over those who engage in “loathsome” prayer in “peer-pressured piety signaling situations” is what’s paramount to you in this thread.

Have you ever lost someone close to you SUDDENLY? A parent, a sibling, a spouse, a close friend? When you get a phone call in the dead of night that informs you that “they’re gone”? It’s a massive shock, of a magnitude that can make a non-believer speak (aloud or silently) to the universe.

I doubt that the person-in-charge here actually TOLD the kids to pray. You’ve got a bunch of youngsters who are in deep shock, they’ve just found out what happened. No doubt there was crying, confusion, helplessness. More likely that someone suggested a prayer to “center” the kids, give them a quick task to perform together, and quiet the runaway emotions a bit.

There are countless ways to pray, and not all of them involve self-centered entreaties to a fictitious sky-being.

Peace.

strawman/misattribution. It is clear as day I never referred to *prayer* as loathsome. I referred to peer-pressured demonstrations as loathsome.

What is loathsome is people in a position of authority directing subordinates to "kneel and pray" -- as quoted from the OP -- in a social situation where nonconformity extracts massive social costs. [If you doubt that anyone in charge directed the kids to do this, take it up with the OP, but I am responding to their premise that this direction was given.]

People can pray or not pray to their hearts' content and IDGAF. Stop telling people, especially kids, especially in public, especially when cameras are present, especially when newsworthy events are happening or in flux, to engage in specific religious/ritualistic behaviors. And, FWIW, that admonishment would include directing them NOT to pray, and NOT to kneel. That's over the line too.

It's like saying "there are no atheists in foxholes." The fuck there aren't. My child dying was not a religious experience. People pray because they once believed in Santa Claus, and are still hoping it's true.

My beautiful Becky. I’m right there with you, Croney and CatWoman.

my daughter playing basketball throughout high school and we have attended so many like tournaments and my nephew coaching at the college level Kobe was his favorite NBA player. Tragic tragic tragic. God bless all and their families.

Nine people on that helicopter, times so many family members who are grieving tonight.

That picture, that picture. I think of all those kids who had someone to look up to, someone to help them learn to make their journey in life a positive one.

I think of Kobe, dying at the young age of 41. And then I think of his daughter who was only 13. She hadn't even started her life. The others on the helicopter were probably somewhere in the same stages of life.

It shows you how fragile our time is here. It made me realize that what I want to do every day is to put kindness into the world. Not all of us get to be a Kobe Bryant, but we can all do something to make this world a better place.

This afternoon I looked for Kobe's Academy Award winning short film.

It is called 'Dear Basketball.' It's less than six minutes long, and I would highly recommend it. Go to YouTube and search for it. It will make you cry, but it will also make you smile to see a little boy's dream come true, in a way he never could have imagined.

Those last few moments when that helicopter started falling and they could do nothing about it - that is the most terrifying part of this horrific tragedy.

It must be instinctual in us, that if someone has to die like this, we want it to be instantaneous, so they don't have any fear or feel any pain.

I thought of that, and I thought of the parents on the flight, wanting to protect their children who were with them. And knowing in those few moments that they couldn't do the one thing in the world I know they wanted to do -- make sure their children survived.

You covered all my thoughts there

Then I found out his daughter & her friend were on the copter.
That made it worse!