Comments on: Congresswoman on Sarah Palin’s “Target List” Shot at Political Event

By: bellacoker

bellacoker — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 22:05:42 +0000

Thanks, rodriguez and elibard. I don’t think I can write more about it now, it took me five days to come back and even look at this thread even though I know y’all are nice people, so that probably means something.

By: elibard

elibard — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:20:13 +0000

Thanks, baraqiel. I always enjoy your posts, so I’m glad you liked my ramblings.

@Bellacoker – I love your thoughts on this. I’ve been mulling over what you said. I’d love read your further thoughts if you develop them more.

And Becky, thank you for posting this image. This is enraging, and everyone should see this. It is representative of how vitriolic and violent political discourse has become.

Anyone else eager to see how Jon Stewart handles this?

By: baraqiel

baraqiel — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:26:04 +0000

elibard, that is the most emotionally affecting reaction to this event that I have read thus far. I don’t have much to say in response, but I just wanted to let you know that I found your comment to be really poignant.

By: elibard

elibard — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 06:32:50 +0000

Five years ago I moved from New York City to Tucson. After toughing it out in NYC through 9/11 and the subsequent years of anxiety and repeated threats (leaving aside all the marvelous parts – I’m only talking about the bomb scares, etc), I honestly expected we’d be safer. It felt like moving back in time 30 years, to a simpler, less polarized time. People were eerily polite. There is so much more open space. The only things lacking were green lawns and June Cleaver (at least xeriscaping is now all the rage in the desert – and all the working women I know have stay-at-home husbands/dads, so Ward has taken June’s role).

Of course I should have known better. Hatred, fear, and aggression exist everywhere. The political climate pervades the nation – it’s not concentrated in the Northeast corridor, or on the coasts, or in metropolises over a certain size. Economic disaster is destroying the rest of society’s threadbare fabric.

So instead of going to one of the several peace vigils around town for Gabby Giffords – not only an earnest, effective congresswoman, but a wonderful person and neighbor – I stayed home and cuddled my family, thankful that we’re safe. Not everyone we know here is so lucky, and we are making food and taking care of animals for those affected.

I’m sorry that the system is so broken. I’m horrified that one of the few public servants who really believed in the system and doing good is suffering so. Gabby and her (astronaut) husband have consistently impressed me with their sincere faith in the power of open discussion, and in the justice and goodness inherent in our system of government. They have a faith that so many of my generation lost decades ago.

At least, they did until now. We are shooting ourselves by losing people like her.

I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for my kids, that this is their world. I’m sorry for the victims of the shooting. I’m sorry for Gabby and her family. I’m sorry for what it says about the world.

By: Dong Chao

Dong Chao — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:09:23 +0000

Additionally, Palin’s behavior appears to represent ‘communicating threats.’

By: Dong Chao

Dong Chao — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:02:37 +0000

Sarah Palin should be detained for questioning immediately. Also, the victims of this shooting should sue Palin in civil courts for monetary compensation.

By: rodriguez

rodriguez — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:24:13 +0000

I don’t think you have crossed a line Bella, I think you should pursue this line of thinking. I’d listen, for one.

By: bellacoker

bellacoker — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:34:51 +0000

I have been thinking a lot, since I heard about this, about the wisdom of telling people over and over again that they should be thinking about things symbolically, that they should believe that the symbolic meanings of things are more real than the concrete meanings of things, and then to beg off responsibility for the use of harmful, dangerous symbols.

We can’t have it both ways. If we want to ponder the symbolic meaning of the universe through religion or mysticism or whatever, I think we have to be willing to acknowledge that path of thinking is not and has never been completely benign. We cannot go through life saying we believe things that when acted out literally by other people we immediately turn around and disavow. Isn’t that what we’re asking rape culture to stop?

(Let me know if this crosses a line, I think I’m more upset than I thought.)

By: joe

joe — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:22:59 +0000

My bad PH, I just heard they found her name written in his apt, he planned the whole thing, I got that wrong!

By: PhDork

PhDork — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:04:49 +0000

“Spur of the moment” with a extended clip in his 9mm? I doubt it.

Reading about the alleged shooter makes it fairly clear he was not well, but I don’t think he just snapped. There is also some concern for an accomplice, an older white man.

And as much as I loathe Palin, she is but one of many garbage-spoutin, hate-speechin, gun-totin, right-wingin “tough talkers” out there.