US Congresswoman shot today in Arizona

arthurdent

unsung wrote:

You need to find a hobby. Comparing two people that you disagree with politically to a murderer shows how weak minded you are.

you all smell the same to me

josevolution

pandora wrote:

One would think something so heinous and evil would bring people together...
there is the karma.

We should unite in love not the sham of politics.
Politics is the power of the weak. Love is the true strength.
How will the world ever come together?

Some believe we chose how we leave this world before we come here.
That there are souls who sacrifice to help others to learn love,
some believe we are all connected.

Go in love, rest in peace.

Very well stated but there are some people here who just don't get that ..

unsung

arthurdent wrote:

unsung wrote:

You need to find a hobby. Comparing two people that you disagree with politically to a murderer shows how weak minded you are.

you all smell the same to me

Try extracting your head from your ass. Get some fresh air once in a while.

StillHere

pandora wrote:

One would think something so heinous and evil would bring people together...
there is the karma.

We should unite in love not the sham of politics.
Politics is the power of the weak. Love is the true strength.
How will the world ever come together?

Some believe we chose how we leave this world before we come here.
That there are souls who sacrifice to help others to learn love,
some believe we are all connected.

Go in love, rest in peace.

wolfamongwolves

The sheriff's statement at the press conference is really passionate and honest to me. I applaud him for not just reporting details, but his courage in speaking his mind about this repugnant act:

"When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government... The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is outrageous."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12145076

arthurdent

read this on a local message board:

As someone who works with mentally ill, I can tell you right off that what they hear on the air waves affects them far more than people think and I have never yet seen one who seemed to be so affected by progressive thinkers. Every single one I have worked with with over the last 20 years has been far more influenced by the very right wing folks on FOX and on several of the Wichita radio stations both regular stations and the multiple "Christian Radio" stations. Because most seriously mentally ill respond to paranoia type thoughts and are fear based individuals, the right wing media really speaks to them. And many really think they are getting special messages from them when they are in their psychotic states. Where you might think Glenn or Rush is funny, a psychoti8c person takes their messages ina profoundly deep way

wolfamongwolves

arthurdent wrote:

read this on a local message board:

As someone who works with mentally ill, I can tell you right off that what they hear on the air waves affects them far more than people think and I have never yet seen one who seemed to be so affected by progressive thinkers. Every single one I have worked with with over the last 20 years has been far more influenced by the very right wing folks on FOX and on several of the Wichita radio stations both regular stations and the multiple "Christian Radio" stations. Because most seriously mentally ill respond to paranoia type thoughts and are fear based individuals, the right wing media really speaks to them. And many really think they are getting special messages from them when they are in their psychotic states. Where you might think Glenn or Rush is funny, a psychoti8c person takes their messages ina profoundly deep way

That makes a lot of sense. Also considering the fact that right-wing media and tabloid journalism tends to thrive on outrage and emotive polemic, I can see how it could resonate strongly with someone who is paranoid or delusional.

kenny olav

I hope this does bring us together as a country, but I'm struggling to find the optimism. And what does it means to come together? We need to reach a consensus that is better than "This was wrong". We need to understand, together, why this is happening, and what we can do about it.

I'm going to jump right into a political issue that I don't see having been brought up yet (sorry if it has)...

How long are we going to continue to live in this fantasy world where we think we can trust the fragile human mind with guns?! How can we be so permissive of the sale of a device that is easily hidden, transported and then used to kill several people within a matter of seconds?! How many more children are going to be caught in the crossfire?!?

We haven't yet heard why this young man targeted the Congresswoman... it doesn't look like we can blame the Tea Party, and if we could, I don't think any of us who are the liberal end of the spectrum would be "celebrating". Just as I'm not celebrating this as yet another sad example of why our attitude towards gun ownership needs to change, even though I'm very passionate about the issue. But I understand why the Tea Party would be brought up. I think it's likely that the violent rhetoric some people so carelessly throw around has had an effect on this young man's mind... I think that is a valid concern, but I'm more concerned about our carelessness with guns. How many more shootings are we going to endure before we realize we must dramatically limit gun ownership!?

wolfamongwolves

kenny olav wrote:

I hope this does bring us together as a country, but I'm struggling to find the optimism. And what does it means to come together? We need to reach a consensus that is better than "This was wrong". We need to understand, together, why this is happening, and what we can do about it.

I'm going to jump right into a political issue that I don't see having been brought up yet (sorry if it has)...

How long are we going to continue to live in this fantasy world where we think we can trust the fragile human mind with guns?! How can we be so permissive of the sale of a device that is easily hidden, transported and then used to kill several people within a matter of seconds?! How many more children are going to be caught in the crossfire?!?

We haven't yet heard why this young man targeted the Congresswoman... it doesn't look like we can blame the Tea Party, and if we could, I don't think any of us who are the liberal end of the spectrum would be "celebrating". Just as I'm not celebrating this as yet another sad example of why our attitude towards gun ownership needs to change, even though I'm very passionate about the issue. But I understand why the Tea Party would be brought up. I think it's likely that the violent rhetoric some people so carelessly throw around has had an effect on this young man's mind... I think that is a valid concern, but I'm more concerned about our carelessness with guns. How many more shootings are we going to endure before we realize we must dramatically limit gun ownership!?

A fantastic post. I agree with you entirely.

I don't think you can blame the Tea Party for the shooting. But you certainly can blame them for the unnecessary and irresponsible undertone of violence in their rhetoric. I would never imagine that the Tea Party would condone this act, and I'm sure they are just as shocked. But their rhetoric is geared towards calling for public action, and though they are not directly responsible for this man's actions, it's hard not to see this as fallout from such rhetoric, combined with the dangerously enabling environment of the US's ludicrously cavalier gun laws.

unlost dogs

kenny olav wrote:

How long are we going to continue to live in this fantasy world where we think we can trust the fragile human mind with guns?! How can we be so permissive of the sale of a device that is easily hidden, transported and then used to kill several people within a matter of seconds?! How many more children are going to be caught in the crossfire?!?

This.

Bronx Bombers

You have to figure that there had to be a few police officers at a public event like this so where were they during the shooting?

unlost dogs

Bronx Bombers wrote:

You have to figure that there had to be a few police officers at a public event like this so where were they during the shooting?

From what they're saying, it doesn't sound like there were any police details at the meet-and-greet. I know they don't have police at these when they happen around here.

But where I live, there always seems to be a uniformed and armed police officer on a detail inside the big supermarkets.

Bronx Bombers

unlost dogs wrote:

Bronx Bombers wrote:

You have to figure that there had to be a few police officers at a public event like this so where were they during the shooting?

From what they're saying, it doesn't sound like there were any police details at the meet-and-greet. I know they don't have police at these when they happen around here.

But where I live, there always seems to be a uniformed and armed police officer on a detail inside the big supermarkets.

Thats a good point about the supermarkets, a friend of mine is a local cop in jersey and he gets that detail on occasion. Also you would think with the fact she had threats in the past, her staff would've had some security detail at least for a public event like this. Not saying it would've prevented her from being shot but the fact that so many people were is crazy.

I just read the little girl that was killed was Dallas Greens grandaughter, her father is a scout with the dodgers.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_le ... mlb-305133

Jeanwah

pandora wrote:

One would think something so heinous and evil would bring people together...
there is the karma.

We should unite in love not the sham of politics.
Politics is the power of the weak. Love is the true strength.
How will the world ever come together?

Some believe we choose how we leave this world before we come here.
That there are souls who sacrifice to help others to learn love,
some believe we are all connected.

Go in love, rest in peace.

I heard briefly while the TV was on this morning that 2 politicians, one a Republican, one a Democrat hugged each other after hearing about this tragedy. Even though we are constantly at odds with each other politically, it's necessary that we step back and take a look at the big picture of it all.

Jeanwah

OMG.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/0 ... 06319.html

unlost dogs

Jeanwah wrote:

OMG.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/0 ... 06319.html

What can you even say about such a thing?

Jeanwah

unlost dogs wrote:

Jeanwah wrote:

OMG.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/0 ... 06319.html

What can you even say about such a thing?

This, I suppose. It's something.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183319495030239

BinauralJam

who the fuck shots a kid?

unlost dogs

BinauralJam wrote:

who the fuck shots a kid?

Probably the same kind of people who would then picket her funeral to celebrate her death.

mfc2006

Jeanwah wrote:

OMG.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/0 ... 06319.html

when i lived in Lawrence, i would drive into Topeka to see friends quite a bit. they picket EVERY DAY. it's disgusting.