ST - I have moved and merged the two threads into one, as I think this is a topic worthy of its own thread
Hmm - possibly controversial.
I have sympathy with the origin of wolfarts original idea, but as others have stated, why choose the miners as a catalyst over other departed brethren.
So, the logical extension is to have a minutes silence for all those deceased in the past year, and further more, to have one each and every year (on the basis that unfortunately, there will be most likely further loss of life underground, somehow, somewhere in the following year).
Underground exploration is a hazardous pursuit, hazards that we are all aware of and quietly accept as part of our past time. HE for me is a celebration of this past time, and a time when, should one feel a loss of a friend, raise a toast to them, either quietly, to ones self, or perhaps with a small group of friends.
Having an annual minutes silence at either the opening/closing ceremony (half way through the stomp?) would bring are rather sombre atmosphere to what should be a celebration of underground exploration.
Do mountaineering/alpine/climbing clubs have a minutes silence for fallen climbers, I've never heard of it done. Its just an accepted part of the sport.
Somehow, having some sort of mass minutes silence is too prescriptive. Peter states that those who do not wish to partake can arrange to be else where, but its an un-escapable truth that in reality, this would be very hard to organise and anyone 'caught' in the wrong place would have to make the choice of either be forced to take part out of respect or carry on talking, which would of course be an unpleasant experience for all concerned. Plus those not wishing to take part would be in some way labelled, visibly leaving the room for instance.
My personal opinion is that, on the grounds that if one is held this year, one should be held every year and that I don't think this should happen, I'm against the idea.