Words Hurt

Six Killed in Tucson Shooting (AP)

Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords warned about the effect of hate speech and heated rhetoric before becoming the victim of an attempted assassination herself over the weekend.  Six others were shot dead and a dozen others were injured because of the actions of one young man described as a loner who posted strange internet rants and exhibited some alarming behavior in school.   Still, Jared Lee Loughner had no criminal record, bought a gun and turned an appearance by Representative Giffords at a Tucson Safeway supermarket into a nightmare.  We can make this into yet another gun control debate or try to pin the blame on specific people who may have influenced Loughner, but do we really think this will accomplish anything positive?   I do know this: political discussion has gotten more polarized than I can remember, and I can recall the sixties.   The nasty tone of the 2010 elections (including here in Connecticut), the "my way or the highway" attitude of many bloggers,  cable news shows and talk radio hosts along with the overall lack of civility in society are unacceptable.  I am somewhat familiar with Tucson and may have even been at that store on the busy corner of Ina and Oracle Roads, and I'm saddened to see how a town I loved is now part of an angry immigration debate where few people have any desire to compromise.   The Pima County Sheriff there said it well,  calling for an end to the "vitriol" in public discussion.  This should serve as a wake-up call!   Think twice before demonizing others.   From what I heard in the media today, few are taking that advice.