Jan 8th, 2012
We never have had the dialogue that should have followed the hail of gunfire which shocked our nation one year ago today. The least we can do is remember the victims.
Those killed: Christina Taylor Green, 9; Dorothy Morris, 76; Arizona Federal District Judge John Roll, 63; Phyllis Schneck, 79; Dorwin Stoddard, 76; and Gabe Zimmerman, 30.
Those wounded: Mavanell Stoddard, 75; George Morris, 76; Pamela Simon, 63; Randy Gardner, 60; James Eric Fuller, 63; Bill Badger, 74; Ronald Barber, 65; Susan Hileman, 58; Mary Reed, 52; Kenneth Dorushka, 63; Kenneth Veeder, 75; and, of course Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
Showing posts with label Tucson Shooting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tucson Shooting. Show all posts
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A Connection?
Jan 19th, 2011
In the aftermath of the Tuscson Massacre, I think it's abundantly clear that no one needs to have 30 shots in a handgun. I find it equally obvious that the average gun-toting, homicidal maniac is going to select high capacity magazines as their product of choice. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's (D-NY) proposal to ban such products faces tremendous opposition. You may or may not have seen this chart yet. I find it relevant.
In the aftermath of the Tuscson Massacre, I think it's abundantly clear that no one needs to have 30 shots in a handgun. I find it equally obvious that the average gun-toting, homicidal maniac is going to select high capacity magazines as their product of choice. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's (D-NY) proposal to ban such products faces tremendous opposition. You may or may not have seen this chart yet. I find it relevant.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Olbermann On The Continuing Failure Of Civility
Jan 18th, 2011
Last night's comment from Olbermann did a fine job of illustrating just how quickly the rhetoric has ramped back up from the Right.
"We learn that the right doesn't even recognize the irony of its claim of being unfairly blamed for the violence of others, when it has spent the last several years doing exactly that to Muslims -- particularly American Muslims. We also learn that the right can simultaneously insist no political party or inclination can be blamed for Tucson -- while it itself blames the Democratic party and the left, for Tucson."
Friday, January 14, 2011
Reading Around
Jan 14th, 2011
It seems clear that Jared Loughner is profoundly mentally ill.
However, to suggest that because his worldview is warped a discussion about it's influence upon him is not germane is ridiculous.
In a column that I can only describe as exposing an outlook of detachment bordering on delusion, the NY Times' David Brooks expresses incredible shock that we have engaged in any discussion of the shooter's possible politics:
"Other themes from Loughner’s life fit the rampage-killer profile. He saw himself in world historical terms. He appeared to have a poor sense of his own illness (part of a condition known as anosognosia). He had increasingly frequent run-ins with the police. In short, the evidence before us suggests that Loughner was locked in a world far removed from politics as we normally understand it."
"...why, one has to ask, does this person with mental illness, carefully select for assassination an already targeted and demonized congresswoman, rather than, say, a supermarket, or a workplace, or a school? We don't know precisely yet - but it sure is relevant to ask that question. Why not shoot up the animal shelter he was fired from? Or the classroom he was banished from? In fact, it is a kind of bizarre suppression to avoid the obviously political fact of the target Loughner selected."
Indeed. There are 541 members of the senate and the house (including the house's 6 non-voting members). What were the odds that one of the 20 members targeted with gun-sights on the infamous Palin poster would be nearly killed in an act of gun violence by mere coincidence?
"I find this notion that in real time we should not even be discussing or airing or debating the political and rhetorical climate that preceded this to be a dangerous piety. Airing the question of how public culture affects the disturbed mind is not just legitimate in this case, but vital, in ways that Brooks of all people should understand. David is a very shrewd analyst of culture, of why it matters, of how we are all connected - and yet, suddenly, this one young man exists in a total vacuum, where politics and culture do not exist.
Such a place does not exist - however much some would now like it to."
The Words That Help Define US
Jan 14th, 2011
To be fair, there were many important moments this week. There were statements of hope and those of genuine solemnity. There was, on full display to the American people, great decency.
There were, to put it politely, other instances too. As we leave events of the last seven days behind us, we would be wise to remember that the most important people are still the dead and wounded in Arizona. However, as the rest of us gradually return to normalcy, there will be two statements from America's current and would-be leaders that will have a lasting impact. There was Sarah Palin's. And then there was the good and decent and positive one. Here is the latter in it's entirety. The full prepared text of President Oabam's speech follows the video.
There were, to put it politely, other instances too. As we leave events of the last seven days behind us, we would be wise to remember that the most important people are still the dead and wounded in Arizona. However, as the rest of us gradually return to normalcy, there will be two statements from America's current and would-be leaders that will have a lasting impact. There was Sarah Palin's. And then there was the good and decent and positive one. Here is the latter in it's entirety. The full prepared text of President Oabam's speech follows the video.
In Consideration...
Jan 14th, 2011
If images like this one were not offensive in the first place, they would not have had to remove them this week. Yes, this appeared in the Tucson, AZ market.
If images like this one were not offensive in the first place, they would not have had to remove them this week. Yes, this appeared in the Tucson, AZ market.
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