Why does The Argus conclude that apathy is the reason so few people have signed books of condolence for the Queen Mother?

Is it not more likely that people are actively deciding for themselves that they do not wish to buy into this over-hyped grief-fest?

During the past few days, we have seen examples of human behaviour which I would not have believed possible in a country which believes itself to be a mature democracy.

Maybe all those apathetic people think there are actually more important things to be concerned about than the death of one person who lived a long, privileged and luxurious life.

Maybe they would have preferred to have seen Parliament recalled to discuss impending war against Iraq or the very real and horrific conflict in Palestine or maybe the continuing decline of our public services, rather than the obsequious exchanges of platitudes to which we were treated this week.

-Andy Richards, Woodhouse Road, Hove