Is this OK nowadays?

I am somewhat saddened by the world at the moment. When bad things happen, there is an outpouring of grief, shock, anger and disbelief. Communities, be it local or global, come together to share their emotions and try to make sense of what has occurred.

But some people seem to think it's all right to use bad things as a way of making a point and seem to dispense with expressing any kind of emotion about the tragedy.  

Remember how it felt when a political aide said that September 11th was a good day to bury bad news? I found that a shocking response to the unbelievable sight of planes being used as weapons. "Screw what's happened. Let's just get some benefit from it", the aide seemed to be saying.

Isn't it just as bad to use current tragedies to make a political point?

Or is the world now such a cynical place that every news item is there just to be added to the "And this proves my point" bucket or to be ignored because it disproves a belief?

I go back to something that I don't remember being taught, but I certainly associate with the sentiment of my upbringing:

"If you can't think of anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

And as I've got older, I appreciate Abraham Lincoln's phrase:

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt".

Though I'm sure my critics will feel that this post as proof of the latter.

At least Tim Peake is back safely from his travels. Now there is some news to celebrate.