The Shooting in Tucson

Although not as timely as some of my posts, the wanton killing of six people along with the wounding of 13 others still merits coverage. The act was so heinous it may be one of the events I will remember where I was at the time I heard of it. And that was about 100 miles away in Mesa at our winter home.

I got a text message from my old boss and current friend, Chief Sue Riseling, of the University of Wisconsin Police Department. My wife and I were watching something on our TIVO when the text said that a Congresswoman had been shot in Tucson. We turned on CNN and the story played out as most are now aware.

After seeing nearly back-to-back coverage, we became enmeshed in the stories of the people involved, even the shooter's. Learning that he may be mentally ill was of little consequence to those who lost so much, but it provided a "reason" of sorts for those looking for the "why" of it all. No reason is sufficient or ever justified, but there was at least something to grab onto.

Last Friday, January 21, we took a drive to Tucson to see for ourselves the ever-growing memorials at various sites in the city. My wife had received her first ICU nursing experience at the very same University of Arizona Hospital (now Medical Center) where the victims, including Congresswoman Giffords, were taken.

It was apparent as we drove up to the Medical Center that the idea to visit was not ours alone. Even 13 days later, there were large groups of people wending their ways through the flowers, posters, candles, and other tributes to those killed and injured. We spent time walking the grassy front lawn, taking some pictures, and saying silent prayers as we read as much as we could.

I noticed a young woman who seemed to be organizing some sort of display and I quietly asked her if the Safeway Store, where the massacre took place, was close. It was not, but she offered to sketch a quick map. I found a piece of cardboard and a pen for her. She asked if we wanted to see all of the "Migils." I said, "pardon me?", not sure what she had said.

"Do you want to see all of the 'migils'?" Again, I looked puzzled and she then explained that some of the displays were memorials to those who lost their lives, and some were vigils for the wounded; both words now truncated, apparently, into "migils."

With the aid of her map we made our way to Representative Giffords' Tucson office, and then to the Safeway store on Oracle Road. Both were moving memorials, uh, "migils" as we spent time again reading, thinking, and praying as we walked.

The Safeway Store, now open for business, had condensed the migil area to one that was on the exact spot of the congresswoman's neighborhood meeting, hence the site of the horrendous killings. Being in this spot just 13 days post tragedy was unsettling at worst, but at the same time, comforting at best. The cop in me scanned the people around the area, looking for who knows what, but looking still. It is not always obvious who may be there to hurt people. It likely was not obvious on January 8.

Visiting the area was helpful in a way. The word "closure" is maybe too heavy for someone who had not suffered a personal loss. But we felt better somehow as we drove back to Mesa.

Maybe closure is the right word, because in the greater family we are all a part of, it was personal.

Tucson: Let It Be a Catalyst, Not More Fodder for Blame

Living in Arizona for the winter, only 100+ miles from Tucson, brings home to me the devastation of the senseless murders and wounding done by one sick individual. His time will come to be dealt with fairly and justly. The time for something else may have already come.

The noise from this tragedy has included the "blame game," both from the left and the right. Some would lay this man's rampage on the steps of the political scene over the past few years, which has been undeniably vitriolic. Yet to keep up this blaming is really fruitless, and actually may be non-productive. Instead of working to tamp down the rhetoric, the sides instead ramp it up by saying it was not their fault.

Let's take the Tucson Tragedy out of the mix and just admit that the political atmosphere has been poisonous of late, and not state as fact who may have been poisoned, so to speak. If this massacre is the catalyst for productive discourse in the political arena, then let it be one where we can move positively toward increased civility.

No one expects the left and the right to now come together holding hands around the campfire. There are deep policy differences and there still should be rigorous and occasionaly loud debate on the issues. Let's urge our politicos to just tone down the personal attacks and rank sarcasm that has become de rigueur over the past few campaigns.

Unless you really believe your colleague is a traitor to the USA, thus possibly deserving the death penalty, then don't toss out those bombs hoping to get something positive from the attacks. Unless you truly believe your colleague does not love America or does not want to do what is best for Americans, then tone it down a bit and make your best case for your side using cold, hard facts.

Eschew the hyperbole, the sarcastic vitriol, and baseless personal attacks. Most intelligent Americans see through that babble anyway, so it does little to promote the cause.

I finally have some hope that maybe the vituperative remarks may lessen, perhaps helped by the shocking attack in Tucson. Whatever the impetus, let's contact our Senators and Representatives and tell them to work hard for us in a civil way. And when they do that, as evidenced in the news or press releases, let's write them to just say, "Good work!" They like to get the good comments too. Maybe there is still hope for America.