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By now everyone has heard of the terrible tragedy that occurred today in my adopted home town, Tucson. I am so saddened by this senseless shooting. Gabby was the finest Senator Arizona ever had. She never failed to respond to a letter, unlike my Republican Senators. She fought long and hard for the underdog.
Our hearts go out to the families of the ones who were killed by a deranged 22 year old. And we pray for the recovery of Gabby and the others who were so brutally shot. I can't say it as well as Alan Grayson did so I am reprinting his letter.
Gabby Giffords: A Few Words
A reporter called me a little while ago, and told me that
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords had been shot at a public event.
She is in critical condition.
I'm going to let others comment on what this means for
America. I just want to say what it means to me.
Gabrielle Giffords and I served together on the House
Committee on Science and Technology. She was the
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics,
and I was a member of that subcommittee. Her D.C. office
was one floor above mine.
I saw Gabby dozens, if not hundreds of times, during our
two years together. And nearly every time that I can
remember, she was smiling.
Gabby is one of the most cheerful, charming and engaging
people I have ever known. She's always looking on the
bright side. She has something good to say about pretty
much everyone. Bad news never lays a glove on her. She
loves life, and all the people in it.
No matter what is going on in your life, after fifteen minutes
with Gabby, you'll feel that you can touch the stars.
Everyone knew that Gabby would have a tough race in 2010.
(She actually won with 49% of the vote.) But I always thought
that if each of her constituents could spend that fifteen minutes
with her, and see what she is really like, then she would win
with 99.9% of the vote. (Same thing about Harry Teague of
New Mexico, who lost, and a few others that I could name.)
You would want her as your Congressman, because you would
want her as your friend.
I know nothing about the man who shot Gabby, and what was
going through his mind when he did this. But I will tell you this - if
he shot Gabby out of hatred, then it wasn't Gabby he was shooting,
but rather some cartoon version of her, drawn by her political
opposition. Because there is no way - NO WAY - that anyone who
really knows Gabby could hate her or hurt her. She is a kind,
gentle soul.
My heart goes out to Mark Kelly, Gabby's husband, and the
many, many people who love her. Gabby, we don't want to
lose you. Please stay here with us.
Alan Grayson
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords had been shot at a public event.
She is in critical condition.
I'm going to let others comment on what this means for
America. I just want to say what it means to me.
Gabrielle Giffords and I served together on the House
Committee on Science and Technology. She was the
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics,
and I was a member of that subcommittee. Her D.C. office
was one floor above mine.
I saw Gabby dozens, if not hundreds of times, during our
two years together. And nearly every time that I can
remember, she was smiling.
Gabby is one of the most cheerful, charming and engaging
people I have ever known. She's always looking on the
bright side. She has something good to say about pretty
much everyone. Bad news never lays a glove on her. She
loves life, and all the people in it.
No matter what is going on in your life, after fifteen minutes
with Gabby, you'll feel that you can touch the stars.
Everyone knew that Gabby would have a tough race in 2010.
(She actually won with 49% of the vote.) But I always thought
that if each of her constituents could spend that fifteen minutes
with her, and see what she is really like, then she would win
with 99.9% of the vote. (Same thing about Harry Teague of
New Mexico, who lost, and a few others that I could name.)
You would want her as your Congressman, because you would
want her as your friend.
I know nothing about the man who shot Gabby, and what was
going through his mind when he did this. But I will tell you this - if
he shot Gabby out of hatred, then it wasn't Gabby he was shooting,
but rather some cartoon version of her, drawn by her political
opposition. Because there is no way - NO WAY - that anyone who
really knows Gabby could hate her or hurt her. She is a kind,
gentle soul.
My heart goes out to Mark Kelly, Gabby's husband, and the
many, many people who love her. Gabby, we don't want to
lose you. Please stay here with us.
Alan Grayson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~````
Day 2. Gabby is still holding her own. She has survived
the first critical 24 hours. Candle light vigils are being
held at the hospital and at her headquarters. Two churches
are holding prayer services for her today.
the first critical 24 hours. Candle light vigils are being
held at the hospital and at her headquarters. Two churches
are holding prayer services for her today.
The Arizona Daily Star's cartoonist, David Fitzsimmons,
was interviewd on CNN and he said what most of us are
thinking, He said "the shooting was inevitable in a state
with an intense gun culture and politics that are to the
rabid right." Although truer words were never spoken
he had to write an apology in this morning's paper.
I am sure the editor required it. I don't have an editor so
I will gladly repeat his words. A state that allows concealed
weapons to be taken into a bar has lost it's soul and is
asking for tragedy.
Not all Arizonan's are as unbalanced as Russell Pearce
(The author of that disgusting immigration law)
and Gov. Jan Brewer (the one who lets the poor and
helpless die by not funding transplants). Blame
Maricopa County for foisting these unconscionable
bunch of hard hearted Hannas on us.
outrage.
was interviewd on CNN and he said what most of us are
thinking, He said "the shooting was inevitable in a state
with an intense gun culture and politics that are to the
rabid right." Although truer words were never spoken
he had to write an apology in this morning's paper.
I am sure the editor required it. I don't have an editor so
I will gladly repeat his words. A state that allows concealed
weapons to be taken into a bar has lost it's soul and is
asking for tragedy.
Not all Arizonan's are as unbalanced as Russell Pearce
(The author of that disgusting immigration law)
and Gov. Jan Brewer (the one who lets the poor and
helpless die by not funding transplants). Blame
Maricopa County for foisting these unconscionable
bunch of hard hearted Hannas on us.
outrage.
19 comments:
I am so sorry Darlene. I was out all day and just heard the news about the shooting. Senseless violence. I know this country is very violent but it seems that it’s getting worse. I saw the map from Sarah Palin’s sarapac site. She has the end of a scope, like the end of a gun, in several places on the map. If you click on the scope you see the name of the person. For Arizona she has a scope on Gabrielle Gifford, another one on Ann Kirpatrick and one on Harry E. Mitchell.
No one knows now I guess what were the reasons for the shooting but in any case, why have a map with gun scope on people?
I am so sorry, Darlene. I have been mortified since the news came.
Frankly, I want the heads of those who incited the killer on a plate. I have feared that this would happen since last summer when my former (replaced by a Teabagger) Congressman and his family and staff received death threats if he voted for the health care bill.
I know that isn't the answer but it's how I feel. The back peddling that the right will be doing would be laughable if it so very, very sad.
Thanks for posting Alan Grayson's email, Darlene. Horrifying day. Except for half a dozen people (including you) in AZ, I think the US should just give it all back to Mexico (Texas, too)--IF Mexico wants the trouble.
*Vagabonde - I think Sarah Palin is as responsible for this tragedy as anyone. To have anyone in her gun sight is to incite violence. It doesn't take much to cause a deranged person to carry out her suggestion.
*Kay Dennison - I find it scary and interesting Democrats are the ones who get death threats, while the majority of Republicans remain safe. Is there some mentality of those who lean far right that makes them prone to violence? Just wondering.
*Xtreme English - Thanks for excluding me. The state is wonderful; it's the nuts in it that are the problem. And most of them are in our government.
Darlene, Thank you for posting about this senseless tragedy. Hope it's a wake-up call to unthinking media who feed on and conflate the dark side of current events. Arizona is similar to Oregon, where I live,in its need to increase funding mental health services.
*Naomi Dagen Bloom - Arizona needs to increase funding for education and for health care too, but it is cutting funds for those vital items. I am fed up with our current governor and legislators. They are part of the rabid right.
Darlene,
I too am absolutely sick over what has happened to this fine Congresswoman. If she dies or is unable to function from now on, it will be a horrendous tragedy for the whole country! I sincerely hope that Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Michele Bachmann, Sharron Angle, Fox "News" (including Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck), will all FINALLY learn to quit spewing forth hatred and inciteful words and learn to BITE THEIR TONGUE before speaking in such a way...but I'm not too optimistic they ever will...
I am so sorry. I kept away from the news this weekend and tried to ignore it but can't sleep now for thinking about this tragedy. But how awful.
I came to your blog this morning knowing that I would find rationality, truth and compassion. The reason I keep hoping that my country will recover its sanity is because people like you keep bravely telling the truth. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
If Gabrielle Giffords survives and recovers she will be a beacon of hope for all of us that we can emerge from this orgy of hate and vituperation that so many of our politicians and public figures have have created.
Jack Jodell
Darlene,
I too am absolutely sick over what has happened to this fine Congresswoman. If she dies or is unable to function from now on, it will be a horrendous tragedy for the whole country! I sincerely hope that Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Michele Bachmann, Sharron Angle, Fox "News" (including Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck), will all FINALLY learn to quit spewing forth hatred and inciteful words and learn to BITE THEIR TONGUE before speaking in such a way...but I'm not too optimistic they ever will...
*Jack Jodell - For some reason your comment was not published so I just pasted it in for you.
I am sick at heart that Gabby will probably be unable to serve for years. Her doctors said that the recovery from brain damage is very slow and can take years. She is still in a medially induced coma.
The idiots you mentioned will keep on spewing their hate as long as people will listen. Their shock style is what keeps them on the air and they are paid outrageous salaries to say inflammatory things. I blame the public for falling for their lies and distortions.
*Jack Jodell - Oops! I didn't look far enough on the comments and missed yours. I pasted it from my gmail notice so you have been published twice. See my answer below.
*Hattie - It is such a senseless crime. I, too, lose sleep over it.
*20th Century Woman - Gabby will indeed be a beacon of courage.
The ones who know Gabby personally say she is a fighter. She is now fighting for her life. The doctors say that swelling of the brain peaks at day 3 so today is critical. I feel confident that she will survive as she has the best doctors and she is not a quitter.
It is a terrible tragedy that such hatred exists and spawns acts that are so violent. Education has got to be the answer. Until then it is a case of keeping praying.
It has bothered me so...it has to stop. I know we can not stop mentally disturbed people from senseless acts, but, the rest of us need to be mindful of how these unstable feed on the commentators hatred. The next thing we are reading how they killed innocent people.
I am sorry this happened to such a wonderful person and all the others whose lives have been affected.
I am sorry Darlene....
Good post, my heart goes out to all that have been unjustly hurt. Its a terrible shame & useless act of hatred. I grow weary from the hatred of others and their terrible deeds.
take care
*Freda - Hatred is such an ugly emotion. I cannot fathom why some think it's a useful tool to use politically.
*Beverly - We must start better funding for mental illness. And those who recognize a mentally disturbed person need to act on that knowledge and get help for them.
*Looking to the Stars - I think we all grow weary from evil deeds, but it is soon forgotten with no changes being made. Too sad and too unforgivable.
Darlene, Yay, I am not alone in Arizona! I clicked on a link to send a message to my representative in Congress, wrote out my message, and then submitted it, only to realize (I had been blocking it out!) that MY representative in Congress is Ben Quayle! Maybe i should move to Tucson.My good friend, Pam Simon, also was shot on Saturday. She has worked for Gabby since 2007...
Thanks for that, Darlene. I immediately thought of you when I heard the news.
Love and Peace,
Tom Degan
*Katiekono - I am so sorry that your friend, Pam Simon was one of the victims. I hope she is recovering nicely.
Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you will return. We need all the sane people in Arizona to speak out (There are some of us who can still think for ourselves.)
Is your representative related to Dan Quayle?
*Tom Degan - Thank you.
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