PRESIDENT CALLS FOR CIVILITY, HEALING AT SERVICE FOR VICTIMS OF ARIZONA SHOOTING

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Wounded Congresswoman opens eyes, embraces husband

 

By Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery

January 13, 2011 (Tucson) – Speaking to an overflow crowd of more than 30,000 in Tucson yesterday, President Barack Obama memorialized the six people who died when a gunman opened fire January 8th, shooting 19 people including Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. He also called for a new era of civility, healing, and compassion.

Noting that the shooting has prompted a national conservation on everything from gun safety laws to the adequacy of our mental health system, the President added, “At a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who happen to think differently than we do, it’s importatnf or us to pause for a moment and make sure that we’re talking with each other in a way that heals, not a in a way that wounds.”

Obama urged Americans to “be civil because we want to live up to the example of public servants like John Rolland Gabby Giffords, who knew first and foremost that we are all Americans, and that we can question each other’s ideas without questioning each other’s love of country.” Roll, a federal judge appointed by President George H.W. Bush, was among those slain by gunman Jason Lee Loughner.

Congresswoman Giffords, who was shot through the brain and underwent surgery, opened her eyes, raised her arms when asked to give a “thumb’s up” sign, and hugged her husband, two Senators present at the ceremony reported, drawing applause and cheers from the crowd.

 

The President urged Americans to work together “so that we bequeath the American Dream to future generations.”
 

He spoke individually about each of the victims of the massacre. In addition to Judge Roll, the victims included:
 

• Phyllis Schneck, a Republican who volunteered at her church and took a liking to Giffords, a Democratic Congresswoman;
• Dorwan Stoddard, who heroically dived on top of his wife, sacrificing his life to save hers;
• Dorothy Morris, who died despite efforts by her husband of 50 years to shield her;
• Gabe Zimmerman, outreach director to Congresswoman Giffords; he was engaged to be married;
• Christina Taylor Green, a 9-year-old student athlete who aspired to be the first woman to play in Major League Baseball. Green was recently elected to her school’s student council. Born on the day of the 911 terrorist attacks, she was one of 50 babies pictured in a book called Faces of Hope.
 

“I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it. I want America to be as good as she imagined it,” President Obama told the audience. “All of us—we should do everything we can do to make sure this country lives up to our children’s expectations.” He asked Americans to show empathy for others, and to be “reminded that in the fleeting time we have on this Earth, what matters is not wealth, or status, or power, or fame—but rather, how well we have loved—and what small part we have played in making the lives of other people better.”
 

Sarah Palin, who has drawn criticism for posting a map on her Facebook page that had gunsights drawn over the wounded Congresswoman’s district and urged voters to “lock and reload.” Palin has since removed the map but blamed the media for engaging in “blood libel.” She has expressed sympathy for the victims and denounced violence, but declined to apologize for her actions.
 

The shooter, Jason Lee Loughton, has a troubled past that defies a clear political ideology, though he has listed among his favorite books Hitler’s Mein Kampf and the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx. He had been banned from school due to concerns about mental illness and numerous people who know him expressed concerns over his mental state. He also posted rants online at social networking sites that seemed incoherent and at times, psychotic, yet there is no indication whether he ever actually received treatment for mental illness.

 

Sylvia Maria Leon drove from her home in Sells with her son Henry to "pay their respects" to those injured and killed. "The President's coming here will help us feel better" she said, "It's like the whole nations cares."

 

The occasion began with Native American Blessings bestowed with the waving of an eagle feather to the Yaqui and Tohono Nations. Cochise County is the largest part of Gabrielle Gifford's 8th District.

 

Leon Thompson, former Santee resident and former general manager of East County Magazine, was in attendance during the event. The President spoke at McHale Arena, an indoor arena, with an overflow crowd filling a football stadium nearby.
 

“The President’s speech was healing and cathartic—just what was needed for a community filled with days of tears and sadness,” he concluded. “Obama’s message of hope was entirely appropriate and struck the perfect note of healing that could, if taken to heart, change the tone of the nation.”
 


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