Friends of the Arizona shooter say he was incited by a brief conversation he had with the congresswoman and felt she did not adequately address his concerns. So he shot her? Granted, he was already a volatile personality but we watch politicians throw daggers and shoot bullets (figuratively) every day on television. We hear Sarah Palin say things like "it's time to reload!" To someone like this guy, did he take it all a little too literally? Did the words, the jabs, the unbelievable negativity that has become American politics justify, in his mind, taking action?
The attitude of "We care more about beating the other party on this bill than actually passing it" has become so prevalent that it's no wonder someone took negative political rhetoric to the next level and caused injury.
In the heartbreaking ceremony after the shootings, Obama called on everyone to inspire love with their words and to stop the negativity. In my opinion, his words cannot be put into action fast enough. Politicians: concentrate on the things you were elected to do, get off Fox news, stop making reality shows, quit campaigning for re-election two years in advance and make your actions and speech a positive example for the American people.
Our thoughts go out to the families of the victims, to the congresswoman making a miraculous recovery and to the 9 year old girl he shot, who will never have the chance to be the public servant she wished to be someday.
As Gandhi said, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
