Awkward Tribute

I try to avoid overly downbeat posts. However, after reading on Facebook about the death of someone I knew from school, it felt extremely callow to do anything but write about that, especially as the other subject would be complaining about my day.

It's always surprising and shocking to hear of anyone's death. Let alone of someone your own age. There's not much really to say of someone I didn't know that well, but was always nice and friendly when I did ever talk to them. The only thing to say is rest in peace, and may whatever you believe comes after death come to you.

The other thought that is associated with this is the sad lament of the trend towards jingoism. Fay was working in Afghanistan for a charity when she died - fortuitously (if there is ever a way to more misuse a word) of natural causes. You hear on a near daily basis the salute to 'heroes' of troops who die in Afghanistan. The newspapers are filled with tributes to them. Yet nothing on this.

Anyone who willingly puts themselves in a place like this to help others is just as worthy of the label 'hero' - if not more so.