I suppose customs are different in different countries, but I think demanding a moment of silence at a sporting event is appropriate about once every five or ten years. And support for it should not be by a mere majority - it ought to be well-nigh unanimous. It was appropriate to have a moment of silence for the victims of the World Trade Tower. I suppose it might have been appropriate for the tsunami victims, although even that might not have worked. But for an old priest who died of old age, I don't think so.

Of course, I'm one who hated standing for the National Anthem before I could watch a movie in a U.S. Army theater.

-Joe Offer-