with you.
In light of the recent and unfolding tragedy in Arizona the Congress should pass the following suggested resolution(or something very close to it):
"We members of the House of REpresentatives hereby resolve to remember the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the murder of John Roll, chief Judge of U.S. District Court for Arizona, beloved husband of Maureen and father to three sons and five grandchildren; Christina Green, aged 9, beloved daughter of John and Roxanna Green; Phyllis Schneck, aged 79, beloved mother of son Ernie Schneck; Dorothy Morris, aged 76, beloved wife of George; Gabe Zimmerman, aged 30 survived by a brother; Dorwan Stoddard, aged 76, beloved husband to wife Mavy.
WE hereby resolve to dedicate ourselves to honor the memory of these Americans, wounded and murdered victims of extremism, by abhorring and banning all use of Hate-rhetoric, disinformation and "the Big Lie" in this chamber. We hereby resolve that we the members of this deliberative body will never willfully contribute in any way to the harming or death of another American, victimized by demagoguery and Hate speech.
WE must recognize that irrational people respond to irrational speech. With this in mind we resolve to articulate our positions on issues in logical and practical terms addressing and providing solutions to the issue or problem at hand - and lacking any practical solution to a problem to NEVER resort to DEMONIZING those who disagree with us. Demonizing people dehumanizes them and facilitates the fateful (sometimes irreversable) step from logical argument to the commitment of anti-social acts and crimes. We hereby resolve to disagree without demonizing.
WE must remember the words of former President Clinton: "our words fall on the serious and the delirious alike". We therfore must be responsible in how we conduct ourselves in this chamber and in all aspects of our official duties as in our personal lives.
It is also resolved to place an empty desk at the front of this chamber. On this desk will stand a sign bearing the words:
"Let there be NO MORE VICTIMS of Hate rhetoric, disinformation, Big-Lies and the demonization of those who do not agree with you. Let it stop with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords,Christina Green, Dorothy Morris, John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard and Gabe Zimmerman."
Now, I know Republicans will object to such a pledge arguing it is directed at them and their relentless use of Demagoguery, disinformation (like introducing a bill with the title "repeal of the '
jobs killing health care law' - this is an unsupported allegation, not a fact. It has no place in the name of a bill to be voted on by Congress) and the Big Lie (e.g. "death panels", "Govmints gonna kill you grandma.") and the demonization of people who disagree with you(enumeration of examples of this is beyond the scope of this post). But (with perhaps irrational hope) we call upon Republican representatives to explore responsible citizenship and to not prevent this resolution for good sense and sanity to be accepted.