I think it is definitely not in line with Western values to force people to observe moments of silence. We might look down on people who appear not to respect things like that (e.g. the Obama pledge of allegiance rumors), but we would find it strange and oppressive to force the private sphere to alter their activities like that. Hearing that "The Ministry of Culture will patrol entertainment venues to ensure compliance" just sort of creeps me out.

But I guess I can understand where it's coming from. That said, I personally feel that if people aren't willing to stay silent for that period of time, you're not going to gain anything by forcing them.

For Andrew, wwo words: princess diana

I should say that no one force us to mourn for the people who were killed in the earthquake.Chinese people are all so sad that we want to do anything we can to help them,save them and mourn for them.Nowadays,we don't want to play games or entertain ourselves at all because so many people are dead.Staying silent to mourn,donating blood and contributing money is the only things that we can do to help,to release our sadness.I don't know why someone think we aren't willing to do these things.As a matter of fact we can't be nonchalant.
I can't understand why someone here said sarcastic remarks.Too inhuman!

so many people died in the earthquake. You know that, it's 32,476 till now. It's not so easy for anyone but you to say something inhuman. why do you think people are forced to mourn. We are so sad for hearing the earthquake, watching the report, receiving the toll. Mourning is a way to let our lament out.

I think considering the scope of the tragedy, it's right for businesses to observe the mourning and the only way to enforce it is through regulation.

Many countries do not allow businesses to open on certain days, like Sundays.

Maybe there should be one month posthumous mourning too for all those millions who died during the Great Cultural revolution too.
Yes we all feel the sorrow for the dead and alive.But no need to be hypocritical about it.Why not have a Requiem Mass?
Better make sure the living refugees are well looked after and not forgotten, that corruption doesn't sink in.Beware of disaster relief fat cats!

Can anybody imagine the United States government waiting an entire week after "9-11" and then on September 18, 2001 initiating a nationwide 3 day television ban on sports and entertainment programming? No ESPN, no MTV, no David Letterman; no Canadian networks (All 4 Hong Kong TV stations were blacked out in Guangzhou) with every US network forced to carry coverage of the tragedy's aftermath?
I believe in the entire world only China and perhaps North Korea could pull this off.

By the way, I was in the Guangzhou subway during the three minutes of "sirence" (a new English word created in China!)

US did not black out TV, they just criminally invaded iraq. think i prefer TV blackout.

Why 7 days: It's a Chinese tradition to mourn the dead the seventh day after their death. It's the way to show respect for the dead. Not for show, just for mourn.
We will forgive you for not knowing the tradtion and thus said what you said. But we will definitely NOT forgive you or anyone for not respecting the dead!