Can we not just mourn?

Or do we need a day off to mourn properly? There has been quite a bit of debate here and here, so I wont attempt to rehash these debates. I'm amazed that people are still going on about why Ireland isnt having an official National Day Of Mourning. Ok, it hasnt been called one, but by international standards, we are having one. Italy, one of the 2 most affected countries I think, after Poland is having 3 days of national mourning, but everything is staying open.

Why Irish people are "outraged" that we aren't having a day off to mourn is ridiculuous. Businesses are being told to be flexible to employees who want to attend mass or watch the funeral. If its that important to you, there's nothing stopping them taking a normal day off.

I had the misfortune of listening to Neil Prenderville on 96FM this morning. I normally NEVER listen to him, but I'm down in Cork in my parents house after finishing work in Dublin last Friday. It was on this morning as my Mum was listening to it. Every caller was "ashamed to be Irish" because we weren't having a National Day Of Mourning. Their arguments were so ridiculuous, they made me ashamed to be Irish instead.

One of the main arguments against having a NDOM is because the overall cost to the country is just too much. Besides, the arrangements for Friday are the same the last time a Pope died and we are following international protocol on it. Except calling it a "National Day Of Mourning". Do people need that title to be able to mourn properly? If we had one, a huge amount would just see it as 3 long weekends in about a month and another excuse to go on a session for the weekend. Isnt it sad that thats what most Irish people would do? Go to the pub and get hammered given the smallest excuse?

So I hope Irish people can just get over the fact they have to go to work Friday and actually start to mourn the death of Pope John Paul II and remember him for the great man that he was.