On the Arizona Shooting
Yes, we all want to blame each other for the shooter’s actions. It would be too easy for one side or the other to pick an argument and stick with it, given the rather nebulous nature of the shooter’s possible motivations. Yet it is this very fact that we should keep in mind.
The shooter, Jared Loughner, has interests and exhibited behaviors that could easily be associated with one or another side of the political spectrum. These are ultimately peripheral to the reality of his actions. Reasonable discussions we should be holding at this time, should include the topic of gun control in America, the valid observations concerning our heated political rhetoric, and even how such (occasionally) inflammatory rhetoric may play a part in influencing the mentally unbalanced. Throw in references to First Amendment rights, for good measure. And above all else, we should be uniting as a nation to ensure that the fringes of our society don’t feel isolated enough to liberally apply bullets to the rest of us.
I feel it would be incredibly irresponsible for media outlets to turn this into a referendum on Sarah Palin. Again, I admit the prospect is a tempting one – but this event has NOTHING to do with her. This event is a reflection on those who distrust Politics enough that they feel the only effective source of change is violence. Ignore Sarah Palin, and whatever nonsense she might spew about this. This isn’t about her; it’s about America and her(not Sarah’s) future.
Palin comes out with an 8 minute tirade right before ceremonies in Tucson, and you command us to leave Sarah alone? I’d like nothing better than to “leave her alone”, but how can I do that when she forces the issue – blood libel – in my face?
Seriously, she’s like a little sister sticking her finger an inch away from you and yapping “I’m not touching you, I’m not touching you, I’m not touching you!”
Make no mistake. I disapprove — perhaps more than anyone — of the things Sarah Palin knowingly or unknowingly represents. It is why I have been incredibly keen on studying her behavior, and observing the patterns I find. But we have to face facts, yet again.
The shooting was a fact. Palin’s representation of Gifford’s district on her bullseye-riddled map is also a fact. A connection between the two, however, is tenuous; a correlation, merely visible. The connotations behind the “blood-libel” remark were news to me this morning, although less so to those familiar with it. And above all this, Palin’s response to comments about the above was – and is (I expect she’ll have more to say following the media’s coverage of her response) – inevitable.
This presents two things: 1) Palin could not have been forever oblivious to the fact that her actions would be covered and scrutinized, whether or not unfairly; 2) Knowing that she has now chosen a path where all her further actions will be thusly treated, she will “confront” a demon/enemy she created in late 2008 (the media) head-on. In light of the latter, she’ll keep talking to make herself look as great as possible for 2012. Yet, many people – even within her party – still disapprove of her.
THEREFORE: We should treat her the way we treat the little sister, especially when you’re her 23 year-old sibling: Ignore the shit out of her until she goes into a corner and cries that no-one loves her. When she gets over THAT, she’ll grow up. And who knows? She might have interesting things to say then.
Or maybe – and, in light of my current emotions of her, this is my wish – she’ll just shut up and leave everyone alone.