FINAL WORDS ON TUCSON

It has been more than a week since the terrible shooting in Tucson. As I don't watch the cable news programs, I have not been exposed to as much of the media hype as some people. Each day I scan the online headlines and have kept abreast of the miraculous recovery of Congresswoman Gifford. Of course, I watched President Obama's speech at the memorial service held for the victims. The positive energy of the crowd attending this memorial helped to send the healing words of Obama to the nation and to the world. He urged us as a nation to withhold blame. He reaffirmed that we are a "good country", and asked that we come together as a united people, searching for and working towards ending the inflammatory discourse that has taken hold of our political arena. He showed great tenderness and emotion while honoring the lives of those who were lost that dreadful day.

Yesterday I watched a video online of a PBS news broadcast of syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks giving their analysis of President Obama's speech. Both were very hopeful that this will bring about a new sense of civility in the political discourse. Mr. Brooks said, "Never underestimate the power of a great speech", which in many opinions, this definitely was the best speech of Obama's presidency. He continued to say that "after that speech there has been a psychological/emotional shift nationwide among Republicans and Democrats." The consensus was that something good may come of this national tragedy.

Maybe even put an end to the "herd mentality" in Washington... us against them? They could start by doing what I have heard suggested. Sitting mingled together -- not on opposite sides -- during the upcoming State of the Union Address.

I did note this morning that some of the organs of the youngest victim, Christina Green, have been donated to a girl in the Boston area. What a proud tribute to this child, who was born on 9/11.

I hope the media quickly puts the negative stories of this shooting behind us and concentrates on the recovery and good that comes of it. And I hope -- even if the shooter is severely mentally ill -- that the media shares some of the responsibility for putting so much emphasis on the beliefs and actions that separate us as a nation, therefore putting more thought into uniting us instead of making profit from the stories that inflame us. As we all know, "good stuff happens" everyday in our world.

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A few comments on the recent events in Tucson from my favorite raconteur, John (Jack) Nance Garner. Jack is a former deejay and charismatic preacher. He is also a portrait artist specializing in pastels, an actor, and a part-time assistant for special needs students in Denton, Texas. He is also a regular contributor to the Letters to the Editor section of the Denton Record-Chronicle. He wrote the following to them recently:

"I would like to tip my hat to the editor of the Denton Record-Chronicle for not running a picture of the Tucson terrorist, Jared Lee Loughner.

Everywhere the experts are venting their ideas on what is responsible for the mass murder in Tucson. What has not been, yet badly needs to be said, is the media -- all the media -- by pasting the likeness of any mass murderer on what they use to reach the public, is in effect issuing an invitation to every mentally unstable personality with murder and a desire to have the public spotlight focused on them, an invitation to become a celebrity.

You will see the young man from Tucson cussed and discussed in all kinds of media. He will share airtime, print space, and network publishing with the President, all the nation’s leaders and policymakers, sports giants, and entertainment stars. He will become for a three-week period a household name, all because this man was able to obtain a gun and ammunition and slaughter six people that up until that terrible moment in Tucson never knew he existed.

Most of the mass murderers of our day have been rejected loners with few friends and have obtained few accolades.

Somewhere right now is one of these people; they have seen the murderer’s picture; they are hearing the discussions on everything from his political views to his musical preferences; and the sad, angry loner is thinking, ‘All that attention; you know, I could have that.’"

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Google has made available to us "bloggers" statistics on who is reading our blogs. I am really amazed at the different countries checking in. Recently, a few folks from Tunisia have looked at the blog. Perhaps because they have been going through so much violence in their own country while changing governments, some are curious about the violence we have suffered here in America. I hope that some come back to read about the peaceful and loving articles I present. I'd also like to invite anyone from another country to send me their comments. The world is shrinking, and we truly are all ONE people on this planet.

Peace and love,
Marilyn