Gabrielle Giffords shot, Arizona Congresswoman |
|
|
|
Boomers Life Welcome to one of the most popular Baby Boomer sites on the web. Everyone born between 1946 and 1964 is a Boomer just like us. And even though we may have challenges facing us, we also have an open future ahead. His ongoing campaign is to help us enjoy all the good things we have. Welcome to our world. Our Music Our Interests Health and fitness innovations Baby Boom generation experiences Issues for work and retirement Number of Boomers in each U.S. state Surprising increase in Social Security claims Bodhi Tree Bookstore Closing is a Boomer Experience Do Boomers still care? Protests then and now Our People More Simon and Garfunkel - Greatest Hits
Share with a friend. Tell them about this site or mention it on your blog. Links are good too--and we will post yours. BoomersLife.org Contact Us You are welcome to comment on a posting or share some info on your own experiences (today or back in the day). Sanford Holst Editor © 2008-2024 Boomers Life |
How far will politics go? Gabrielle Giffords Shot Arizona Congresswoman When hatred is voiced in political commentaries, we tend to brush it aside as politics or exaggerations. But can it also be dangerous? Rants against moderates and liberals by right-wing commentators and Tea Party favorites may have finally taken its toll. Congress- woman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head on January 8, 2011, with the bullet passing through her brain. Gabrielle Giffords Gabrielle Giffords Six others died in that hail of gunfire by a lone assailant. They were mourned on January 12 by friends, family and President Obama at a ceremony in Tucson, Arizona, the site of the tragedy. They are: Christina Green 9 years old Dorothy Morris 76 Judge John Roll 63 Phyllis Schneck 79 Dorwan Stoddard 76 Gabriel Zimmerman 30 Shooting could tame tough political rhetoric by Richard Cowan (Reuters) Jan. 9, 2011 Protesters
parade an altered photo of President Barack Obama sporting an Adolf
Hitler-like mustache. A candidate for the Senate muses about gun
"remedies" if election results don't go the right way. Members
of Congress are spat on and taunted with racial epithets before casting
votes for a healthcare reform bill. Welcome
to politics American-style. For
the past few years, some public officeholders and pundits have warned that
the political rhetoric has gotten a little too overheated in a country
known for its loose gun laws and history of presidential assassinations. Now, in the aftermath of Saturday's Arizona shooting rampage that left a congresswoman in critical condition from a gunshot to the head, six people dead and 13 others wounded, some are saying it's time to reset the tone of America's political discourse. 6 Die in Tucson Rampage by Kim Murphy and Seema Mehta (Los Angeles Times) Jan. 9, 2011 The shooting Saturday morning was so fast that there was barely time for people to scream before they fell, witnesses said. When it was over, six were dead and 12 were wounded, including Giffords, who was shot in the head. The suspected gunman was identified by police as 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner. Police say the shooter may not have acted alone, and witnesses said he fired at close range with a semi- automatic pistol and was preparing to reload when two onlookers tackled him. Mystery surrounds suspect by Scott Craft and Mark Porubcansky (Los Angeles Times) Jan. 9, 2011 Did the suspect in the attack have a clear political agenda? Or is he a mentally unbalanced young man, perhaps spurred to action by what the sheriff called "the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths" in this country "about tearing down the government." Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik said the suspect, whom law enforcement officials privately identified as Loughner, had "a troubled past" and had come to the attention of the police because of his behavior while a student at Pima County Community College. The sheriff did not specify the nature of that behavior. "There's reason to believe that this individual may have a mental issue, and people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol," Dupnik said. Gabrielle Giffords shooting fuels debate over rhetoric by Susan Page and Fredreka Schouten (USA TODAY) Jan. 9, 2011 Has
the nation's harsh political rhetoric become more than just talk — to
the point of being dangerous? The
attempted assassination of Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords as
she spoke with voters outside a grocery store in Tucson fueled a debate
Sunday over whether the sharp partisanship and anti-government language
that now mark American politics have created a climate that makes violence
against public officials more likely. As a moderate Democrat who barely won re-election in a state torn by disputes over immigration policy, economic angst and growing mistrust in the government, Giffords was familiar with today's increasingly nasty political rhetoric. Her opponent last fall accused her of betraying her district. Meanwhile, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin's website posted a map with cross hairs on 20 Democrat-held congressional districts Palin was targeting for takeover by Republicans in the November elections. Giffords' was one of them. |
Comments: My prayers go with this brave woman, the six people who died so needlessly, and their families. -- Linda R, Los Angeles __________________________________________________________ You can post a comment for this article, or for anything on our website here. |
|
Related Article: ____________________________________________________ "Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan How
many roads must a man walk down How
many years can a mountain exist How
many times must a man look up Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan album Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan album |
|
Also available on Boomers Life: |
|
Our purpose is to help rebuild the Boomer community, and our justifiable pride in it, as well as to enjoy a better life for ourselves and those important to us. May all the best be yours. |
|
music, people and issues of interest to Boomers |
|
|
|
Photographs and artwork are original on this site, or permission was obtained for images clearly copyrighted. Other images such as record albums are understood to be in the public domain for fair use. If for any reason an image has been shown for which you are the photographer/artist and were not consulted, please let us know so that proper permission can be obtained or the image deleted. - |