Thoughts?

[davek]

Liverpool Echo.co.uk - News - Liverpool Local News - Hillsborough lessons for Liverpool schoolchildren

Remember what happened, yes, but I'm not sure of this, I'm not sure it should be used to define the city. This feller Cllr Rotherham was the one behind organising the infamous statue late last year. For him to say that “We need to embed it [Hillsborough] in what Liverpool is about, it’s part of our psychology" is a bit morbid. Is a tragedy really something that Liverpool should identify itself with and ingrain it on the civic psyche? I think stuff like this, the statue, and the upcoming Inquiry are in danger of turning it all into an industry.

 

[devonblue]

im not from liverpool so im not emotionally involved as most of you but for me it was a shocking day that should be remebered but not glorified.

 

[davek]

im not from liverpool so im not emotionally involved as most of you but for me it was a shocking day that should be remebered but not glorified.

To be fair to the councillors involved, I dont think they're looking to glorify it. But they are in danger of letting an horrific event define the city. Is Glasgow remembered for the Ibrox Disaster, for example?

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

something that used to happen whenever ushoited failed to win, was that they would trot out the "they haven't been the same since munich" quotes, ushoited fans that i worked with that were of a generation that would've been at school when it happened, used to be sick of hearing about it, in the way that they were repulsed by the way it was constantly brought up regarding failings of the club, as opposed to respect for the dead.

imo, it won't be long before we start hearing that 'they have never gotten over hillsborough' i pay my respects to those who didn't make it home every year on the anniversary, i've told my kids as they get old enough about what happened, and how i was at the other game that day and fearing for my mates, and how so easily we could've been in that end etc etc. if they start teaching it in schools then the city really will get the moniker that bumbling boris gave it of self-pity city.

 

[devonblue]

it also happened in sheffield
glorify may be the wrong wording and if so then im sorry.

 

[Goat]

I told my children the story the other day, im sure lots of parents tell their children. It should be up to each parent what they tell their own children.

None of us need a statue to remember it, it will always be with us.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

I think the fact it's poured through the media every year will ensure that it's never forgotten. It won't be allowed to. Maybe when they win the league title it will become 2nd fiddle.

 

[davek]

imo, it won't be long before we start hearing that 'they have never gotten over hillsborough' i pay my respects to those who didn't make it home every year on the anniversary, i've told my kids as they get old enough about what happened, and how i was at the other game that day and fearing for my mates, and how so easily we could've been in that end etc etc. if they start teaching it in schools then the city really will get the moniker that bumbling boris gave it of self-pity city.

I agree with that. It would shock me if I was an outsider too. I'd think it was a bit creepy to be honest.

I told my children the story the other day, im sure lots of parents tell their children. It should be up to each parent what they tell their own children.

None of us need a statue to remember it, it will always be with us.

Exactly. It should be privatised, that's exactly the right way to approach the issue, imo. To say - as this Cllr is saying - that Hillsborough should be part and parcel of who we are and that the process of 'embedding' it will start at school is completely inappropriate. It's crazy to me. But because of the issue it wont be criticised by anyone for fear of offending.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Why should we be afraid of offending when this guy says whast he feels like. Political manouvering.
Fact is, it is a part of us as we all demonstrate every time the subject comes up. We don't need it to be taught in schools. Every post I've seen on the subject of Hillsborough on this site has been totally respectful to the victims. I obviously include loved ones of those that died as victims

 

[davek]

I know the feller's committed to the cause and has pulled his finger out over commemorating the 96 lives lost, but this is a little obsessive and his views alarm me. The events of 1989 should, after all these years, be a personal matter for the families of the victims not a springboard for constant discussion - and certainly not a way of defining what a whole city is all about.

The more I think about it, the more incredible I find the suggestion he's made.

 

[BlackToffee]

So, heysel continues to be airbrushed from history. You can't talk about Hillsborough without putting it into some context, so if this councillor wants to go down this route, in my, perhaps controversal view he needs to put it within the context of hooliganism, policing, negative press reporting on football fans and perhaps other stadia disasters, including heysel.

Anyway, as important it is to the footballing community in the city of liverpool, and as important as it is to both sides of the blue / whilte divide, how it will be taught will open more cans of worms than this guy imagines.

 

[Hayee]

Well, seen as it happened in Sheffield, will they have an identical replica on their syllabus? I feel its up to the parents and families to teach their children about what happened. It's a traumatising event, should a teacher have to break the news to little children? I guarantee it'll upset a fair few and then there will undoubtedly be backlash from the parents! We learnt about Hillsbrough in high school as part of our gcse history of sport study, but to make it compulsory to teach about it young children imo is disgusting