Like I said earlier, I don't agree with everything the article claims to be true, and I have my suspicions about the motives of the author.

But I do believe there is a recent phenomenon we hadn't ever seen before the Princess Diana's funeral on TV with 24/7 coverage FOR DAYS. I do believe there have been times in the past (prior to TV and going back to the 19th century) where thousands of people actually come out of their homes, go on pilgrimmages (of sorts) to the destination of where the funeral of a renowned person is being held, or to a place they associate with the person who has died, and act out these ritual performances, in order to feel a part of the funerary drama.

But here in the US at least, the book of condolences around the country is new. Placing the flowers, votives, photographs, cards, and mementos as makeshift public memorials isn't new for all cultures, but it is only relatively recently I think, that it has worked it's way into the Anglo American mainstream to the point where it is today. It certainly wasn't part of the Anglo mourning process when I was growing up. But then, I didn't grow up with Anglo mourning rituals, so I guess I'll leave it to others who did, to comment upon that.

While I find the recreational mass grieving thing to be the equivalent of something like the mass unity of sports teams going to the World Series or something, ie here today gone tomorrow, I also understand that for some people, it must fulfill some desire for belonging to a tribe by participating in it's rituals. It is just a desire I know I don't have.