Tears for people I never knew

[anyanka_eg]

I've had to turn the radio off as there is a program about the Munich Air Disaster. It just upsets me too much. It's strange how I can be this affected by the death of 23 people in 1958, even if their individual stories are very poignant. I never knew them, they were dead well before I was born, I've only seen them play on film, and even then on a very few clips. So, it's strange how it can be so affecting.

And it got me thinking about how emotional reactions can be ingrained in you as a kid. I remember my mum talking about it, you see. She knows exactly where she was when she heard the news, she tells stories about how grown men wept in the streets and how the whole of Manchester was united in grief. I think I've been trained to react to this. Not that I mind of course. This is my club, my team and I love them. This is the emotional heart of what it is to be a United fan, even for those of us who never saw the Busby Babes play.

I guess it's just another example, a tangible one, of how much your parents attitudes affect you, even in adulthood.

For those of you unfamiliar with the events of the 6th Feb 1958, this is a very good article http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2251208,00.html#article_continue It's a very good article even if you do know the story. Made me cry but then we've established I've been emotionally brainwashed about it.

Rambling diatribe over.

Comments

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't support Man Utd, but my stepdad does, and hearing the history of the side is one of the reasons I get really irate when I hear people talking trash about United and their fans, even more so than when I hear people talking shit about Arsenal...

[anyanka-eg.livejournal.com]

An Arsenal fan and a United fan in the same house? That must have been fun over the past few years :-)

I'm glad you understand about Munich. There's so many "fans" of other teams who think it's funny to sing 'Munich, Munich 58'.

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

If you think that's fun, my mother is an Aston Villa supporter...someone has to be I suppose. =P The only thing my family is united in is hatred for Chelsea...

Thank goodness I don't live at home any more. =D

I have no time for that kind of tasteless chanting. At the end of the day, people died. Regardless of team allegiance, people should show some respect...