With the Tucson shootings fresh in our hearts and minds, I am concerned with the comments going on out there.
Before we even knew that Gabrielle Giffords was alive, Paul Krugman said, “We don’t have proof yet that this was political, but the odds are that it was.†Keith Olbermann, regarding Palin’s “target map,†said she needs to repent “of her role in the tragedy.†The very popular liberal blog, the Daily Kos, also blamed Sarah Palin.Â
Interestingly enough, the Democratic Leadership Council used an identically styled “target map,†denoting their candidates are “behind enemy lines.†Obama just called GOPers “enemies.†With this kind of tone coming from the left, there have indeed been many violent acts committed against representatives – one of the most notable, a gunshot fired at Rep. Eric Cantor’s office – yes, a gunshot.Â
Most shockingly, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik referred to “vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government†and called Arizona “the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry,†apparently referring to their immigration policy, thus labeling half the country as such. He later said that he had no proof that the accused, Jared Loughner, was politically motivated. It is unclear if Dupnik violated Loughner’s rights to a fair trial. But once it reaches this level of misinformation, the message is sent, and the game is over.
To be sure, our politics appear to be more uncivil than usual. But they are not of an exceptionally vitriolic tone. The Internet lets us see more opinions, but we are a far cry from the riots and assassinations of the ’60s.
Mark Chilton said in a Facebook post that “the words of Palin and Company†gave Loughner “aid and comfort.†On day three, there is absolutely zero evidence of this. He went on: “The danger of the Tea Party rhetoric is not that it will cause reasonable and well-adjusted people to take up arms, but that it will cause unreasonable, mentally ill people to take up arms.†What of the DLC’s target map and Obama’s remarks? Again, nothing has linked Loughner to any political party. In fact, one of his fellow classmates believed he was a “liberal.†But this is inconsequential.
I don’t wish to take away from the real tragedy, but this is exactly what many are doing. They are doing it by spreading misinformation for political gain at the expense of others.
We can talk about quelling political rhetoric all we want, but until we understand that it comes from both sides, nothing will ever change. Let’s wait for the facts to emerge before we assign blame, and not let ill-advised commentators, that think that they are above the fray, drag us all down.
Christopher McQueen
Carrboro
It seems to me that Sarah Palin is playing the oft used game of “the best defense is a good offense”, and not owning up to the fact that her “targeting” of hot-spots of opposition in such a manner has more than likely helped to instigate the course of events that we see in Tucson.
Right-wing extremist is clearly running a dangerous precedent by this kind of approach. The wrong kind of people are attracted to these thinly-veiled aggressive and hateful tactics.
We need some sanity and decency in this situation. If some laws are revised to ensure this happens then Tucson will not have been totally in vain, despite the horrible loss of life.
I see Sarah Palin as a person with a character disorder, defined as:
…a person who doesn’t see themselves as the source of their problems…they see the the world, rather than themselves, as being in need of change and therefore fail to recognize the necessity for self-examination.
“It seems to me that Sarah Palin is playing the oft used game of “the best defense is a good offenseâ€, and not owning up to the fact that her “targeting†of hot-spots of opposition in such a manner has more than likely helped to instigate the course of events that we see in Tucson.”
Except it didn’t actually do that, Barbara. 5 days later and we’re still getting the same slanderous accusations. Give it up and come back to reality. The guy was an apolitical nutcase.
“…politics appear to be more uncivil than usual” is never more so true than now and in our back yard as relayed on the FB wall of our Mayor, Mark Chilton. Here is what he has to say and my response:
Stick and Stones may Break my Bones….
How we all wish that cliché would hold its merit today.
What has amazed and troubled me most is the swiftness in which we deftly attack with equally strong emotion. Having voted for Carrboro, NC’s mayor, Mark Chilton, I was floored by my public servant’s comment on Facebook, “Shooter, you probably think you did this for your country, but like Timothy McVeigh you are America’s worst enemy. You don’t deserve the kind of civilized trial and punishment that you will end up with. F*** you.â€
This was posted within hours after the shooting. It was that very first, succinct few sentences that left a searing impression. In the context of this national event, we are all witness to the power of words, regardless of partisanship. The difference between the individual and the collective, no matter the size, is drastically diminished by the inherent infinite nature of the internet. This leaves us exponentially burdened regarding free speech and, in this case, coupled with scope of the impact of an elected official. This is an example of how one voice can become so quickly a widespread collective.
I am not denying my mayor’s human right to emotional response. It is often difficult to separate the private person from the political one. It is the personal convictions that make up who we are, what we believe in, and desire to promote.
What we hope for is not always what we get. One could have hoped for a mayor that took a positive, unifying leadership role in the community. All is not lost, there is still time.
I am not writing to take a side or to point a finger of blame. My point is to shed light on the responsibility of the individual as part of the collective whole. Every situation presents us with an opportunity. The very same passion can empower us to do things differently if we afforded ourselves patience and observation; one of the hardest of things with which to task ourselves and most worthwhile in its success.
Locally, let this be a reminder to us that words do hold power in the face of a larger, national tragedy. Let us not wield them so quickly as to be so naïve about the internet, Facebook in particular.
Shame on the Mayor for jumping to conclusions. This article says it all:
http://squeezethepulp.com/w/ho:january_2011#mayor_chilton_drops_f-bomb_on_paranoid_schizophrenic