Gabrielle Giffords

[wook77]

I love my town. I chose to move to Tucson for many (and varied) reasons, not the least of which was the weather. More than the weather, though, is the relaxed atmosphere, the fantastic people and the fact that Tucson skews towards the higher educated and more liberal than the rest of the state of Arizona. It's got a small town mentality in a small city. People hold doors for other people. Random strangers ask how you are and you can tell they actually care.

So when I hear Keith Olbermann say "let's make sure another Tucson doesn't happen", it breaks my heart. I'm proud of the fact that Tucson was the only county, across all age groups, to vote against the marriage definition act a few years ago. I'm proud that Tucson has a vibrant artistic community. I'm proud that Tucson has a fairly liberal attitude about immigration reform and that our Sheriff has refused to enforce SB1070 (the "show me your papers" law) and that City of Tucson Police officers were the first to file suit AGAINST SB1070.

But more than my own pride in my chosen hometown, I have to say that Keith Olbermann's special comment today resonated. We have to do something about hate-filled vitriol. We have to do something to keep others from getting shot.

Because today was horrifying. It's been an emotionally draining day filled with ups and downs. This morning, my Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot, point blank, to the head. A 9 year old girl standing next to her at the meet-and-greet event was killed by a gunshot wound to the back. Five others, most of whom are senior citizens, were also killed. There are a total of 19 victims today.

Arizona has some issues, I freely admit it. We've got wacko concealed-carry laws, ironically passed with the idea that if any citizen can carry concealed, then these mass shootings won't happen because the citizenry can defend itself. We've got crazy immigration bills and Minutemen on the border (Minutemen who happen to like to sell drugs and murder people, too). We've got lots going on down here. I can see the warts.

Part of those warts are the hate-filled vitriol that happens on all levels and by all sorts of people. From Sarah Palin putting a target on Gabrielle Giffords to Jesse Kelly offering a fundraising opportunity complete with shooting weapons with taglines of getting rid of Gabby to the insurance adjustor who came out to look at my car and her comments that "what do a bunch of towelheads know about fixing cars", it's everywhere and it needs to stop.

And what is ironic is that those that are bemoaning how "the left" is leaping to conclusions that link hateful vitriolic nastiness to this shooter are the same people that think that the Arabic people have a hive-mind and all believe in the crazy ideologies that tell them to shoot their senators. The same people that are shouting the loudest that this guy has to be just some random fringe loony are the same people that say that all Mexicans are here to take our jobs, rape our women and kill our economy. And by "ironic", I mean double-standarded and ridiculous.

I don't think that Sarah Palin actually meant for people to pull guns and shoot people just like I don't think that Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly want it to happen, either. But when you're constantly encouraging violence, you can't be surprised when violence actually happens. And if it can happen in Tucson, it can happen anywhere.

Comments

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

I saw the headline online earlier and was horrified.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

It's just so freaking crazy. I was glued to the news all freaking day. So crazy that it can happen in Tucson, especially.

[waxbean.livejournal.com]

This is so disheartening. Been thinking about you as much as the victims today. XoM

[wook77.livejournal.com]

<3<3<3 Danke!

And yeah - this is just so awful. I keep hearing about how other representatives are leery of hosting town-hall style meet-and-greets. Sounds like one of the things coming out of this is less accessibility for the people to their representatives. I hope that isn't true because that's just crushing.

[waxbean.livejournal.com]

I completely agree- of course, all my local officials are NOT folks I particularly want to meet, myself.

I've been meaning to call and/or email to ask if you'd like a girl night soon? I'd love to come to you, haul you around for food and films, or whatever. Game?

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I'm thankful I have ppl like Gabrielle Giffords. TBH - I don't agree with her on all the issues but I have met her many times and she's a passionate, amazing woman with a great head on her shoulders and, even more importantly, fantastic listening skills. When you speak to her, you can tell that she's listening rather than pretending to listen.

That would be amazing, btw. You just let me know when! I'm actually now walking around with no boot on, which is freaking AWESOME. I also have a guest room that you are more than welcome to sleep in (though it does have a futon but I've been told it's really comfy)!

SO EXCITED!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I spent 14 years of my adult life in Tucson. It was a chosen hometown for me as well, and it was with a bit of regret that I left 8 years ago. It was crazy to sit on the sofa today with my husband (we both went to college and grad school at the U of A, and got married in Tucson) and watch the coverage. Tucson is about as Anytown as it gets, and it's just crazy to see something like that happen there.

Sarah Palin seems to be covering her ass tonight, though. And it was refreshing to see the Pima County sheriff on TV going off on the people who incite hatred and violence.

I'm actually going to be in Tucson next weekend. I've been meaning to email you and see if you want to get together for coffee.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Yeah, she really does. She's scrubbed a lot of crazy rhetoric but, thankfully, people screencap and keep things. The sad bit is that it's not just her. It's the "second amendment remedies" comments and the "tiller the baby killer" and everything.

I have this sinking feeling that the rhetoric isn't going to change, not with the defense of it sprouting up on a few of the major right-wing blogs and the ZOMGHOWDARETHEY commentary.

Oh that would be AWESOME! I'm still rather carless but I'm certain I'll be allowed to drive by then and we can meet up!

[ozma-katiebell.livejournal.com]

This. All of it. Well said.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Danke! Regardless of political affiliation, we have to get back to discussion of issues rather than vitriolic attacks on others, whether it's ads calling people Hitler or whatever on either side. I just want to hear what people think about the issues. I don't need demonizing and I especially don't want/need violent rhetoric.

[lurkitty.livejournal.com]

I heard about this fairly early on this morning and read several accounts, including the one on FOX News website. The comments on FOX were horrific, first people spreading the rumor that it was a Mexican, then others saying it was a "Leftist" trying to make a case for Obama to take away everyone's guns.

Links to the shooter's YouTube videos show that he was a very disturbed individual who thought the government was engaging in mind control. It's hard to say if he was linked to the Tea Party, as some allege, but I can't help but think that the right-wing rhetoric about "Second Amendment remedies" and the crosshairs on Palin's map may have had an effect on a disturbed mind.

The sad part is that this probably won't result in anyone being more circumspect about their rhetoric because the folks who are the worst offenders won't be listening.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm shocked at all the rumors. I figured, from the area of town, that it would be a white person. I used to live up there (that was my grocery store when I was in college) and it's a very insular neighborhood with very little diversity around it.

The craziness of the conspiracy theories (for both the shooter and the rumor-mongers) is just out of hand. I saw, on one news article, that this guy had to be a socialist out to destroy the fabric of democracy so that Obama and his Kenyans can take over the US and use the infrastructure and troops to take over the rest of the world. Just wtf.

But yes - second amendment remedies and fundraisers where you shoot a picture of the candidate's opponent and Tiller the Baby Killer and encouraging violence like that, it's just out of hand.

Yet again, it's people crying about first amendment rights as if the first amendment gives people the right to speak without any sort of ramifications. It's like their first amendment trumps my first amendment when I go to speak to disagree with them.

Yeah, I'm already seeing the rhetoric falling on deaf ears. I keep making the mistake of clicking on links. The vitriol directed at Dupnik is especially disheartening. One link is all about how he needs to control violent crime. Of course, the author of the post is from North Carolina and obviously did no research into the crime rates in Pima County. Heck, the author had no idea that City of Tucson had its own police force separate from Pima County Sheriffs.

[jean-c-pepper.livejournal.com]

It doesn't really matter what the political ideology of the shooter was, the hateful rhetoric needs to be dialed down none the less. It doesn't matter even if he was influenced by the rhetoric. It still needs to be rolled back.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

This so much. Regardless of the shooter, in this case, the violent rhetoric has got to be dialed down.

There has to be ramifications to violent speech. Stop giving platforms to Ann Coulter and her "kill a liberal" speeches and books. Stop with the "second amendment remedies" as acceptable rhetoric. Stop with all of it. It's not all right to solve a disagreement with violence and/or threats of violence.

[jean-c-pepper.livejournal.com]

There is a definite correlation between the violent rhetoric and racism as well. The rhetoric wasn't this strong when Clinton was president. They are subtly playing on people with this. I read an article yesterday that said that the secret service directly correlated speeches by Sarah Palin with an increase in death threats against President Obama during the 2008 Election cycle. I hate to think about this politically but I think and hope that this will sink Palin and possibly others for their hateful rhetoric. It's hard to get past a dead child. I don't think they meant for something like this to happen, but just as Giffords herself said when her office was vandalized after the health care vote- you use those terms and there are going to be consequences.

[star98hope.livejournal.com]

well said, especially re: the double standards and the intentions of various media personalities on the right. that's what bothers me the most, is that they either can't or won't see the effects rhetoric can have. I agree, they don't mean for people to put their metaphors into action, but by not stressing the metaphor part of the equation they can give the impression they truly mean what they say.

just, why must everyone be so angry when discussing politics and policy??? it makes me so sad. :((((

<3 <3 <3

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Oh man, yes. It drives me insane to hear all these talking heads going on and on about how it's unfair to the Right to ascribe these things to the Right and judge them all by one loony but then, in another broadcast, go on about how all the Muslims in the entire Arabic world supported killing that senator that was killed by his bodyguards. You look at the justification of Islamaphobia when it comes to building that religious center "near ground zero" and contrast it with people calling for more responsible dialog now and it's just ridiculous to see the double standard.

IDEK if the metaphor is appropriate in most cases. "Kill 'em all" just has a lot of power to someone with a giant fanbase. Even if they say that it's a metaphor to kill 'em at the polling station, a more responsible/appropriate saying would be "vote 'em out of office" or "overwhelm them with information", yanno? What is the need for the violent metaphor?

It really makes me sad and, ironically/hypocritically angry. I get so angry when I saw that Jesse Kelly fundraiser and had to listen to his attack ads. Of course, rather than spur me on to violence, it only made me go out and organize people to vote but, still, UGH.

[maple-mahogany.livejournal.com]

I don't really have words to give to my feelings. But, yes. :(

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when it comes to the shooting itself, I just have no words. IDK what to think about the shooter and I'm still processing grief and rage and upset over this happening let alone happening in my town. Tucson just doesn't have this sort of shit happening.

How're your kids doing with it?

[tjs-whatnot.livejournal.com]

♥

[wyntreaurora.livejournal.com]

No longer living in Phoenix (and generally hating the news) plus not having any of the major cable news channels, I hadn't heard anything about this until late that night - and then with my brain being dumb (I'm still adjusting to being completely alone in a "new" city) I totally forgot that you lived in Tucson till I saw you post your latest over in K/M. Then I was like, HOLY COW! So very glad to hear that you're alright! One of my friends lives in Tucson atm going to U of A so I know how small town it is and how easy it would be for anyone living there to be involved in something going on.

I'm not even going to comment on the politics of it because it just makes me so mad, but I will say that this situation is one of the reasons I've never understood AZ's take on gun control/rights/etc. I know that even if there wasn't a concealed weapons law and guns were completely banned outright that people who wanted to would still be able to get a hold of them, but I seriously have to question the intelligence and informedness of a lot of TPTB when it comes to the fight about the second amendment. I'm a "liberal Republican" (or so I've been called) and I understand our *founding fathers* creating the second amendment for when they were still occasionally fighting off wild animals and were dealing with an actual war on their doorstep with England and such, but I have a hard time understanding why there weren't changes and such made as our country got older and grew and CHANGED in regards to weapons...I personally hate guns. I know it's all about healthy fear and such, but they just creep me out. I know too many people who've been "accidentally" injured while cleaning them or been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and too many young lives ended prematurely by choosing to use their parents' weapons for me to have any sort of positive feeling on them at all. *shakes head*