By Gary Rotto
SAN DIEGO — While Congresswoman Giffords continues to recover in the ICU at University Medical Center in Tucson and congressional staffers honor the slain and the survivors with a moment of silence, my question is what did we learn from this horrific experience?
Everyone who uses violent metaphors is to blame– The political climate is red hot across the nation and many believe that Arizona is the epicenter. Liberals are quick to blame former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, pointing directly to her SarahPac page on Facebook … that still has the map with the crosshairs of gunsights over congressional districts. And the page still uses the phrase “We’ll aim for these races and many others. This is just the first salvo in a fight ….” Aim? Salvo? And this is still up? Shameful.
Yes, there are incidents on the other side of the aisle of using violent metaphors as well. While it does not seem like he has used any such language since his election, then-Senator Obama did say on the campaign trail, “If they bring a knife to the fight,we bring a gun. Because from what I understand, folks in Philly like a good brawl. I’ve seen Eagles fans.” Everyone needs to publically disavow the violent metaphors that have become the norm. Are they solely responsible for the shootings in Tucson? No. But these ongoing metaphors and allusions continue to desensitize us in society and provide a climate that allows those who are on the edge to think that it’s okay to perpetuate violence.
Before the 9/11 attacks, the worst terrorist attack on America soil was the 1995 bombing of an Oklahoma Federal office building. On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of that event, former President Bill Clinton noted that the attackers, “…took to the ultimate extreme an idea advocated in the months and years before the bombing by an increasingly vocal minority: the belief that the greatest threat to American freedom is our government and that public servants do not protect our freedoms but abuse them.”
After the 9/11, the battlefield metaphors used by sports teams, coaches and others seem trite. Sports figures seemed to tone down the rhetoric and even police themselves. But then University of Miami star Kellen Winslow II said in a famous 2003 rant, “It’s war. They’re out there to kill you, so I’m out there to kill them. We don’t care about anybody but this U. They’re going after my legs. I’m going to come right back at them. I’m a … soldier.” But the next day, he apologized for his rant and stated, “As for my reference to being a soldier in a war, I meant no disrespect to the men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in the armed forces. I cannot begin to imagine the magnitude of war or its consequences.”
It’s time for politicians and activists to publically apologize for using these metaphors.
Guns will not be banned, but we need to better regulate how they are obtained–Congresswoman Giffords is very comfortable in handling guns. It seems that she would not want a ban put in place. But if the perpetrator was mentally unstable, how and why did he have access to a gun and the magazine with which he attempted to reload that weapon? The 2nd Amendment is not absolute. There needs to be reasonable gun regulations. Arizona law allows for carrying a concealed weapon without needing a permit. And you can carry a weapon into a bar as long as you are not “imbibing” alcohol. So what happens if someone with a gun orders a beer? Who’s taking it away from him or her at that point – or asking the person to leave?
Heroes do exist in this world–In my early years in New York, I remember vaguely hearing about the case of Kitty Genovese, who was attacked twice outside of her apartment with about a dozen neighbors hearing her screams. But the neighbors either did not get involved or hesitated for hours for various reasons. In Tucson, Bill Badger, Patricia Maisch, Roger Salzgeber, and Joseph Zamudio all got involved in one way or another to subdue the perpetrator and disarm him. And all seem to downplay their heroic efforts. Which makes their involvement even more heroic.
As a final thought, if you wish to make a contribution for a Refuah Shlema for Congresswoman Giffords (or any of the other survivors), consider the following two organizations:
Congregation Chaverim – This is the congregation where Congresswoman Giffords has belong for over 10 years. It’s a small congregation of about 140 families. Contributions can be sent to 5901 E. Second Street, Tucson, AZ 85711.
Hadassah Southern Arizona – The Congresswoman is a member of Hadassah 4301 East Fifth Street * Tucson, AZ 85711
In a statement, Mark Kelly, husband of Congresswoman Giffords, has also suggested that contributions be made to “two organizations that Gabby has long valued and supported::
Community Food Bank
3003 S Country Club Rd # 221
Tucson, AZ 85713-4084
(520) 622-0525
American Red Cross, Southern Arizona Chapter
2916 East Broadway Boulevard
Tucson, AZ 85716
(520) 318-6740
*
Rotto is a freelance writer based in San Diego