ONE YEAR LATER- TUCSON

Today is the one-year anniversary of the Tucson shooting where 6 people were murdered, 13 others wounded and scars in the consciousness of many in Tucson, the rest of the state and country remain with those who still suffer with the memories of that tragic day. 

This morning I was reading a special report in the Arizona Republic, interviews of and about many of those wounded and killed.  One stood out:  George Morris, whose wife, Dorothy, was one of those killed.  He said he went to the town-hall meeting outside the Safeway to yell at his congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, for voting for liberal causes.  Morris, who describes himself as an ultra-conservative, blames Giffords, and her husband Mark Kelly  for not having security because Giffords had faced death threats.  He thinks both of them are, in his words, "worthless."  He said a lot of other things that don't fit in with how most caring, humane, kind, and solicitous people would view the victims and all those directly or most closely associated with the horrible events of that day.  But, I'm not surprised.

It seems the term "conservative" and all its forms now means a lack of empathy, caring, regard and kindness.  It means a closed mind.  It means demonizing everyone who doesn't share your views.  It means retaliation for perceived wrongs.  It means power to the rich and screw everyone else.  It means having no conscience.  It means shoving "my way, my religion (Christian), my decisions, my, my, my everything down everyone else's throats.  There is no listening to other opinions and acknowledging that they may have some value.  There is no room for compromise. There is no "working together" to solve problems.  There is no empathy.......... none.

There is only one way, their way.  Such closed minds, so fiendishly obsessed with gaining and retaining power, so greedy for domination, superiority and privilege, so blinded to the reality of most working class Americans.

George Morris, who suffered a devastating loss, has no room in his heart for those left behind.  There is no empathy............ none.    So sad.

TUCSON TRAGEDY

What is there to say?  After all the bluster, finger-pointing, accusations and heated rhetoric surrounding the tragic events in Tucson on Saturday, it's time to step back, shake my head and try to be sane and logical about this situation.

A moderate Democrat and several others were gunned down by a maniac. The accusations hurled against the violent metaphors and rhetoric spewing from talk radio on the right and certain politicos were not misguided.  While those responsible for such incendiary talk may not be directly involved, they must take some responsibility for insinuating the results that occurred.  Putting cross hairs on a map with someone's name; saying someone should be killed; intimating that those who don't agree with you are not patriotic and are un-American, indicating a "second amendment solution" etc. are beyond the pale of intelligent discourse.

Whether or not the shooter proves to be a bona fide lunatic with severe mental problems, the fact remains that somewhere, somehow a seed was planted which produced the Tucson devastation.  It means every one of us must understand that once words leave our mouths, they cannot be taken back, they can be taken literally, they can prove to be lethal. 

While Democrats and Republicans, both, have hurled hateful words at each other, the Republicans have honed that practice into their specialty.  Their words are more vitriolic, menacing, outlandish, and hateful then ever before.  They have shown little respect for others' opinions when differing from their own.  Even after the tragedy they back peddle about things they have said, assailing Democrats and liberals as the ones who are responsible.  Many Republicans/conservatives are just unable to accept that they may be even partly responsible.  They are outlandish in their lies, belligerent, militant, confrontational, trigger-happy suck-ups who are venal to the core.

So, I tried to be sane and logical and I failed.  I just can't get my head around the asinine remarks coming from the Right, no acknowledgment of the possibility of a mea culpa, only finger-pointing to and blaming the Left.  Republicans are not the stuff of which this country should be made.  They are too self-centered, narrow-minded and parochial.

We MUST learn from this tragedy that unless we become more tolerant of others' views as having merit, learn how to compromise, help those who need it while bolstering our educational system, health care system and economy without the prejudice that is so prevalent, we are doomed as a nation.