Saturday night, Sunday mourning

The very public displays of grief following the killing of Danielle Beccan, a 14-year-old schoolgirl, seemed to be more about local politicians in Nottingham trying to find a means of connecting with the public rather than a real attempt to mourn someone's passing. Moreover, the pressure placed upon parents, teachers and pupils to go along with the commemorations, even if they felt them inappropriate, is a painful demonstration of the way in which the politics of emotion can be used to suppress debate.

spiked-life | Article | Saturday night, Sunday mourning