Or will it be insanity?
We'll know when it goes to court. Could be awhile.
When big things happen, I write. I have to get it out of me. This one, since yesterday, was growing like an ulcer all day in the pit of my stomach, and I knew what would cure it. I had to spill it out. My thoughts. My wonderings. My sadness. It's how I work through it and figure it out as I go. It's how I handle big things.
And the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the others is a big thing.
And you don't have to agree with me. It's still America. Right now a lot of people are second-guessing Freedom of Speech, but not me. I do think we can play nice, however.
I've read a lot over the last two days. Couldn't keep up with the tweets last night, they were coming faster than I could down-scroll. The discussion landed instantly, almost as soon as the shots were fired, on the "vitriol" factor, and I believe first used by Sheriff Dupnik.
And then one just has to think about this. Really think about it. Isn't that what level-headed people are supposed to do?
So I just kept reading. Both sides. And then it started getting nasty. Research is something I've been trained to do. It's mandatory, when writing that is.
The conclusions I've come to--at this point:
Number one is that Sarah Palin didn't put the gun in Jared Loughner's hand. Nor do I feel her over-the-top language prompted his actions. But since her name has already been brought up, just let me say I think she's an embarrassment to our country. She's even an embarrassment to her own party. The dignified members of her party.
But, hey, I thought this before the Tuscon terror happened yesterday. I thought it when I saw she was trying to be vice-president. I'd love a woman president. But she didn't know the stuff she was supposed to know to get that job. I've had to get jobs in my life, and I never tried to get one I didn't know how to perform. That wouldn't have been good for the employer or for me.
Nothing personal, mind you, but she has just kept at it ever since then. At least on my TV in my house. And on my Twitter and my Facebook. And her friends, they amaze me too. They say some of the most unintelligent stuff, and it always has to do with hate and embarrassing stuff like that for our country. I mean, they hate just about everybody. Have you noticed? Poor people, black people.
Right now, you know, Sarah's name and reputation are all over the place. Is she going to even say anything about this? I would. You bet I would. I'd be out there so fast in front of the cameras, tweeting, facebooking, UTubing, and please tell me she's not on MySpace, and I'd be saying, "Look, I didn't think anyone would actually think those crosshairs were for the real thing. I feel terrible. " And so on and so on. You know, convince the people of your humility or something!
Sure, it's a bad coincidenc that one of her map targets got a hole blown in her head A very, very bad coincidence. If you're a Sarah supporter, I don't mean this personally--remember, "play fair"--but they're showing clips on every TV station of Gabrielle Giffords talking about the threats due to the health care issue and how she felt about being in the "crosshairs."
As Bill Cosby says, "Come on, People!"
Did she scrub-scrub-scrub Twitter? I don't know. I couldn't find the one about the crosshairs last night, and neither could anybody else. Why would she (or obviously one of her staff) do that? Why?
Instead of using a soap bucket and brush, she could have been--can I say it? Real. Yes, she could have at least "played" real. It ain't right, Sarah Baby, it ain't right.
I have to go along with one Facebooker last night: "She done. Done, done, done." 'nuff said.
Number two is about the freedom of speech thingy. I've never really written anything much about Bill Clinton, but I feel this made sense:
"Words matter: [W]hat we learned from Oklahoma City is not that we should gag each other or reduce our passion from the positions we hold -- but that the words we use really do matter, because there's this vast echo chamber and they go across space and they fall on the serious and the delirious alike. They fall on the connected and the unhinged alike.. [N]o law can replace personal responsibility. And the more power you have and the more influence you have, the more responsibility you have...And what we advocate commensurate with our position and responsibility, we have to take responsibility for. We owe that to Oklahoma City..."
Now, before I go any further, yes, he did say that "fairytale" crap about Obama winning more votes than wife Hiliary, but it wasn't as bad as what we're dealing with today, as far as name-calling and all that.
Key words: "Take responsibility for." I would so love to see a day in my lifetime when those in high position in our government would take responsibility for their free speech. Because I do believe with that great right endowed to us comes responsibility.
The last presidential race comes to mind. You may not like Barach Obama, but remember back, if you will. I don't recall him calling the other side the AntiChrist. I don't recall him calling John McCain anything but a brave war hero. I thought there for a moment, naive as I am, maybe this could be the start of something. You know, maybe it would rub off.
Yeah, like that'll happen. It's a disgrace, though, that it didn't. As my Dad use to word things, "A crying shame. That's what it is."
That's what it is, Dad. That's still what it is.
I would like to think that people everywhere, all people, would see the senselessness of this January 8th, 2011, trajedy and think. Think hard. Think about what it would be like in these United States if we didn't have to hear those viscious, angry voices shouting constantly. It's politics. Of course, with two parties, at least for now, they're on opposite ends of the table. But don't you just see how inflammatory it gets every year, every month, every week?
Could ya just let your people know? I'd appreciate it.
Very wise words, Bettyann. I couldn't agree more. We each can start where we are and spread the word. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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