Like most people, I was horrified to learn of the attempt on the life of Rep. Gabrielle Gifford (D-AZ8). While she is not my representative, I have friends in her district, so it hit closer to home. Not surprisingly, Sarah Palin’s aide is denying any connection between the shooting and Palin’s target list, the one that showed a number of Democratic districts in the cross-hairs. And Sen. Alexander (R-TN) chooses to accuse the media of irresponsibility for even bringing up a possible connection.
So, was it a predictable result of an over-heated political atmosphere or simply the random act of a deranged individual? Or, was it a combination of the two? It seems entirely possible that the images of cross-hairs, the comments about “Second Amendment remedies”, about wanting constituents “armed and dangerous”, about “don’t retreat, reload,” and the like are enough to push unbalanced people over the edge. Free speech is a right, but like all rights, it comes with responsibility attached. And before any of us engages in violent rhetoric, we should consider that there are people out there who are sufficiently detached from reality to take our words literally.
Democracy needs dissent, but we can disagree without becoming disagreeable. My kids will nod knowingly when they read that. It was something I said to them many times as they were growing up. I don’t mind if you disagree with me, but don’t be disagreeable in the way you go about it. That means a measure of respect for the other person and their ideas, and even the willingness to consider that he or she might be onto something you haven’t yet considered. I love a good debate, but I will and do walk away when the conversation gets ugly, when the other person chooses to attack a person rather than an idea.
And isn’t it also possible that those who use violent political rhetoric will be the recipients of violence, should they take a position that someone opposes? So far, that possibility seems totally lost on those who use violent rhetoric.
Once again I felt my heart break. It was because of the murder of 6 in AZ. The first time for me was during my sophomore year at Long Beach State. As I walked across the commons I noticed a friend sitting on a bench crying. It was a typical California clear sky day and this was not typical. Upon my inquiry she told me that our President had been shot dead. The next time was with the assassination of MLK Jr. Then came Bobby, friends at war, Kent State, the murder of a classmate by the NG at Berkeley, and more casualties from Nam. Me I got drafted and got out in one piece. Lost more of my buddies but this time to depression, suicide and some really nasty drugs. It seemed like it would never stop. Then unexpectedly the war ended and the killing fields began. My heart felt as if I was carrying it in my gut. Along came the 80’s and the chant was “party hardy” and work twice as hard. The Shaw of Iran was deposed and more war and again more war; never a sword bent.
Then one day I found myself sobbing in a parking lot on the 9th of September as I listened to the radio describing people leaping to their deaths and I knew there would be consequences and thousands of people not all Americans (some body’s mother, father, and/or child) would die. Some said it wouldn’t last more than a few weeks. However, we now find a 10 year anniversary. My wife is in a nursing facility and over the years I’ve seen some of her room mates get sicker and finally die of “complications” when they didn’t have to.
In the Twin Cities where we live it seems as if locals, people in the hood, are being attacked for no other reason other than for who they are; a woman attacked while walking in the park with her children or an innocent lured into a trap by adults then beaten and robbed. In the case of the latter the police seem to indicate that because of his inability to distinguish good people from bad this sort of thing was bound to happen. NOT TRUE!
There is only one way that we can live in a civil society. Anyone, any one? Be excellent to each other. Sounds kinda cheesy but guess what? It really works? This does not mean we are suppose to let our humanity be crushed by a bloated over reaching beaureacy spearheaded by those who only care about their own narrow band of preprogrammed “remedies” that clash with “realities” of others. This is the way families become homeless and children go hungry and the elderly forced to choose between medication that keeps them alive or food on the table. We simply can not keep going on this track! Can we please recognize each other with just a bit of grace? As human beings we can ask and deserve no less. Peace to you all.
OPnYDe