There’s never a salvageable outcome to a discussion that revolves around a political response to a tragic event. More often than not it is routinely exhibits malignant behavior. On the subject of malignant; the events in Tucson, Arizona! I’d originally planned on keeping my keyboard and thoughts inactive on the subject and instead simply mourn and pray for those who will endure the sting of endless suffering; the price of senseless brutality.
However, as if the images of the wounded and a fathers tortured voice, as he attempts to respond to a reporters inquiry as how he feels following the theft of his darling 9 year old’s life, isn’t sufficient…no, it seems this will not simply be the reporting of an avoidable event. It has become an incredibly durable media circus and political event complete with the unavoidable 24/7 harangue!
The media (well I suppose it should be expected) and the purity of journalism as a reporting function, has hopelessly given way to sensationalism in search of ratings. Then of course, there are the Politicians and Political Hacks who simply can not let a peaceful moment pass without the greater fear of anonymity and miss-opportunity overcoming their senses.
As the result of the mounting comments, such as the following, I just couldn’t remain silent. Well, I could have, I chose not too. Here is a sampling of the more conspicuous:
- Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said. “Arizona I think has become sort of the capital. We have become the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry.”
- The New York Times’ Paul Krugman writes, “You know Republicans will yell about the evils of partisanship whenever anyone tries to make a connection between the rhetoric of Beck, Limbaugh, etc. and the violence I fear we’re going to see in the months and years ahead. But violent acts are what happen when you create a climate of hate. And it’s long past time for the GOP’s leaders to take a stand against the hate-mongers.”
- House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) on Sunday decried the shooting rampage that critically wounded a Democratic congresswoman and killed one of her aides, saying that “an attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve.”
These three specific comments (and there are hundreds more) precisely illustrate a wholesale level of heartless ignorance and self-serving peevishness that has become the face of political rhetoric and the medium minion who follow within the same rank. I may be mistaken, however as I recall there was only one Congresswomen present and seventeen others five of which, at the moment, were killed.
Moreover, at what point in time did Mr. Krugman make a detailed analysis of Jared Loughners’ near complete departure from all-things-normal and conscientious such that he is able to define this crazed nit-wit as having or possessing any coherent political ideology what so ever. By the way, it has been reported that among his favorite book titles are; Mein Kampf (Hitler) and The Communist Manifesto (Marx/Engles).
“I sin, I fail and I labor; the weight of my own flaws. Some unknown will tally the measure of my weakness anticipating more and the more worthy of note; such is the inevitable and nature of ones design.
I am flawed, I am unfinished and surely not yet cured for seasons which I pray one day will come. So from this fragile form oh kindly hear; I ask you this…
Relieve the pain, the weight of many flaws and place upon an equal of that which unknown measures; a measure of thy grace, a measure of thine own grace.”
I’ve always loved the simply beauty of a rhyme gently and strategically placed. Don’t you? Well, anyways I am of the opinion that…
The world has accumulated a level of virulent speech sufficient to last for what remains of man’s time on earth. There are people in Tucson, Arizona (and around the world for that matter) who are the victims of mindlessness mindlessly forced upon them and I believe they can use quite a healthy measure of grace.
Let’s keep our eye on the ball and remember first and foremost; these are not the elite of the federally employed – and if that identity remains their unique distinction then we are in deed a doomed nation – they are Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Sons and Daughters; they are Us and they are Loved.
There should never be a time when this Nation fails to bow in reverence, remorse and labored sadness for the unknown good the theft of life forever silences.
Curtis C. Greco, Founder
