After the hideous tragedy in Tucson Arizona that recently shook us all, I had some ( very very small ) hope that people would show their humanity in a manner similar to directly after 9/11 among other things. I could not have been more horribly wrong. In less than 12 hours the news was utterly flooded with pundits and mouthpeices on both sides yapping vacuously about how the other side is at fault for what this unbalanced madman did. The worst, in my opinion, is the local sherrif using this as a political opportunity! How dare he! This massacre was carried out by a young man that he was fully aware was dangerous and directed at a person that he was also fully aware had been previously threatened and indirectly attacked. Her offices had been broken into and vandalized, among other things.
Now, all that seems to be discussed is further gun legislation ; political vitriol and how the evil meanies on the other side egged this on by saying naughty things. Get Over Yourselves!
Should crosshairs be used on a map to highlight opposing political districs? No probably not as it is in rather bad taste. Should politicians of any stripe talk about "targeting" eachother? Again, the taste issue raises it's head. Without these things being spewed continuously in a conscienceless 24 hour news cycle, would this still have occured? More than 90% likely, and here's why.. The perpetrator was severely unbalanced. To be blunt, he was batscat crazy. Did he know right from wrong? Yes, he did and left proof to that effect. He was no more influenced by the political rhetoric to commit this act than Lee Harvey Oswald.
It is a sad day when the political comedians show more intelligence, humanity and sensitivity than so called "real" journalists. Shame on the lot of you.
Okay, you know me and you know I don't disagree with you often.
ReplyDeleteIn this case I will. Yes Sarah Palin or those like her can and should be held accountable for their tasteless tact and their deliberate use of rhetoric that instigates the crazies. While this kid would probably some day go off the deep end, his target was easier to pick since she was one of the 'evil Democrates ruining my country'. Those that encourage others to take action and defend your rights by killing the liberals are just as guilty of this incident as the people that post the personal address of abortion providers.
Accountability and responsability is a two way street. You can't spout over the air waves saying the only way to save this country from the evil Lefties is to start a revolution and then cower from that rhetoric when the unbalanced take it to heart and attempt to kill those who have been deemed as their enemy.
So there is my quarter on it. For too long have people been allowed to say whatever they want and then say "Well, I didn't mean that literally," rather than face the consequences that, yes words can be taken to heart. If nothing else than admit that maybe they have taken their rhetoric too far and start toning down the violence that they are saying is the only way to save their country.
LOL I don't think you and I will ever entirely agree on politics, but at least we can be intelligent in our disagreement :)
ReplyDeleteYes! They should be held accountable for the things they spew out and the media magnifies. All I am saying is that blaming this on them is like blaming Columbine on heavy metal music. It does not make what they are doing any less wrong, it does not in any way absolve them of blame.
My point also is it's not just the right doing it, the left has been doing it as well. In my eyes both sides are equally FUBAR and the reset button desperately needs to be found.
I am sick of the half assed reporting, childish namecalling and lack of maturity on all sides of the great political debate. Most of these jackasses went to ivy league schools.. but the only way you'd know is to read it on the web.