Secondary: Rapid Response Assemblies
The London terrorist attacks: two-minute silence
By Stuart Kerner
 Suitable for KS3
Aim
To prepare pupils for and to help them participate in the two-minute silence on Thursday, 14 July 2005.
Preparation and materials
This assembly is designed to be used at the time of the two-minute silence on Thursday, 14 July to remember the victims of the London bombings.
Care and sensitivity will be needed, since anyone from anywhere in the UK or beyond could be affected or know someone affected by these events.
If someone known to the school has died in the tragedy, please see our assembly A death associated with the school community, although you will probably want to respond to this at a later time once the original shock has passed.
You might like to copy some or all of the following quotes to an OHP transparency:
‘Silence is a source of great strength.’ Lao Tzu (b. 600 BC)
‘See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence . . . we need silence to be able to touch souls.’ Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910–1997)
‘Saying nothing . . . sometimes says the most.’ Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)
‘Silence is the best answer to the stupid.’ Anonymous
‘Under all speech that is good for anything there lies a silence that is better. Silence is deep as Eternity; speech is shallow as Time.’ Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)
Assembly
- The awful events that took place in Central London last week will have shocked and appalled us all.
- Since Thursday, many words have been spoken about the attack:
– eye-witness accounts from traumatized victims
– pleas for information from the families of those lost or missing
– powerful expressions of condemnation
– cries of anguish from those trying to come to terms with these outrageous events.
- Today, however, we are asked to leave aside words. Today we will spend two minutes in silence. Two minutes to reflect, to remember and to try to make sense of something beyond our understanding.
- Standing in silence for two minutes is quite difficult for some people. In a world of web chats and text messaging, TVs and iPods, and the constant sound of people talking, it is rare to experience time for quiet reflection, away from the tyranny of words.
- Countless millions of words have been written and spoken since the beginning of human history and, of course, words can be very powerful. Words can change the world. They can provoke torture, kill, comfort, heal, encourage, humiliate, anger, inspire, sadden, give joy, make one laugh, and they can forever change one’s life. Words are one of the most potent tools we possess.
- However, so is silence. Silence is much more than the absence of sound, and silence is not the same as not talking. Rather, it is a deep expression of peace within a person, a focusing on our innermost thoughts, beliefs and spirit.
- Silence will allow us to search our deepest feelings about what happened last week; to reach out with our hearts to the lost and those they have left behind; to stand back and begin to comprehend the nature of the evil; and the space to strengthen our resolve to help bring peace to a troubled world.
- Ask your audience either to sit or stand depending on your particular circumstances and begin the two minutes silence.
Time for reflection
As we remember those who have died, we stand together in grief.
As we remember the wounded and the injured, we stand together in compassion.
As we remember those who have lost loved ones, we stand together in sympathy.
As we remember the work of the emergency services, we stand together in gratitude.
As we remember those who work to fight the evil of terrorism, we stand together in solidarity.
As we seek to express our feelings, we stand together in silence.
As we seek a better world, we stand together in peace.
Jesus said: ‘My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.’
Song
‘Spirit of peace’ (Come and Praise, 85)
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