DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have noticed that mourners now applaud at funerals after a memorial speech. Maybe I am old-school, but I do not remember this being done until lately. I would personally prefer no applause.
GENTLE READER: Whether this was started by those who grew up on a parental chorus of “Good job!” for every action or is just part of America’s orientation toward show business, Miss Manners cannot say.
But yes, solemn occasions are now often punctuated by applause. To applaud a funeral tribute does take the focus from honoring the deceased to congratulating the speaker. Even applauding music that is a formal part of religious services suggests that it is done to please an audience, not to glorify God.
So Miss Manners agrees with you, but sees little hope of convincing others that thoughtful silence can be more meaningful than noise.
(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
