U.S. Representative Gabriel Giffords (D-Arizona), was holding one of her regularly scheduled District meetings with constituents last week when a gunman opened fire, killing six and wounding a dozen more, including the Congresswoman. Among those who died was a 9-year-old whose reason for being there was that she had a growing interest in politics and wanted to meet her Congressional representative.
As one who held elective office, and organized a regular series of public discussion meetings, I must admit that I did occasionally think that a particularly controversial decision or statement might bring out people who would add a bit of unplanned liveliness to the event. Never did I fear for my life.
Nor, likely, did Congresswoman Giffords. But, the incendiary rhetoric over the last two years, as well as threats of physical harm to people who voted their consciences and their beliefs, has finally come home to roost.
We did this to ourselves. We did this by letting us dig into the worst parts of our being and let ourselves buy into the despicable rhetoric tossed out by those whose only advantage is that they have a broad platform, such as radio or television networks, from which to spew their hate.
American politics has never been for the faint of heart. From the first truly contentious election in 1800 to now, the level of bile and vitriol has risen to despicable levels and dropped back into civility. But, for the most part, this contention was between the candidates. And, when the election was over, the result was accepted and the contenders moved on to ready themselves for future competitions.
Now, with constant media attention, or should we say boredom, requiring the filling up of 24 hour news cycles with something of generated newsworthiness, the election process never ends. One melds into another and provides the talking heads with something nasty to talk about.
In its wake is the stirring up of people who don’t understand the “game” that it is. These unhinged people take the cries of doom and “imminent disaster” as real rather than contrived. They start to act on it, because there is no real spokesperson for the sane middle who gets the kind of attention the radical wings do.
Thus, a 9 year old girl lies dead as does a well respected Federal judge (nominated by a Republican). In addition, a moderate Democratic Congresswoman is critically wounded and fighting for her life.
This has to stop. But, while some will try to hang their own pet peeve about the present state of political discourse on this event, it is really only about how we treat each other. When our leaders do not respect each other, how can we expect those who follow them to do so either?
We each have to look into ourselves and ask what we will as a society allow. Then, we must all live up to it. Or, other 9 year olds who grow interested in politics might die. ER
