Photos: "We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love"

[Clio the Leo]

"Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a descending spiral, ultimately ending in destruction for all and everybody. Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love." ~ http://www.mlkonline.net/enemies.html">Martin Luther King, Jr



In this photo combo, victims killed at a political event with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz. on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011 are shown. From top left, Christina Taylor Green, 9, Dorothy Morris, 76, Arizona Federal District Judge John Roll, 63, from bottom left, Phyllis Schneck, 79, Dorwin Stoddard, 76, and Gabe Zimmerman, 30.



Lead Pastor Glen Elliott leads the congregation in prayer for the victims of Saturday's shooting in Tucson, at the Pantano Christian Church in East Tucson, Arizona January 9, 2011. The pastor also prayed for the shooter in the case.


Members of Chaverim Congregation embrace Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011 in Tucson, Ariz. The synagogue is where U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz. , attends.


People hold hands during a prayer service for those killed or wounded during the attack


Rachel Crabb (C), 5-years-old, holds hands with teachers, parents and other students during a moment of silence for her slain classmate Christina Green at Mesa Verde Elementary School








View of the office of US Democratic Representative from Arizona Gabrielle Giffords on Capitol Hill


Rep. John Larson, D-Conn. , who heads the House Democratic Caucus, talks about Rep. Gabrielle Giffords D-Ariz. , on Capitol Hill in Washington Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011. Larson said says he thinks lawmakers will be taking precautions when meeting with the public in the wake of the congresswoman's shooting. He said lawmakers will continue to have open sessions with their constituents.


Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn. , left, and Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn. , stand quietly as members of the state's congressional delegation addressed the media to talk about the shootings


President Barack Obama talks with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on a cell phone in the hallway outside the Situation Room of the White House

[William769]

1. K&R.

[Lifelong Protester]

2. K & R

and I'm sorry, it is about politics. The guy was going for the Congresswoman. Period. However, it is my hope that Republicans truly mean it when they say they abhor this violence. Now if one, just one, would stand up to the rhetoric that caused it and call out the perps.

[demosincebirth]

4. Only when hell freezes over.

[madamesilverspurs]

7. I share your hope.

However, I'm reluctantly inclined to accept the unlikelihood. We are not viewed, by their leaders at least, as co-citizens. We are not considered to be worthy of respect (unless cameras and mikes are on). Instead of regarding us as neighbors in a community we are treated with derision. McConnell in the Senate and Boehner in the House have both expressed their primary objective in terms of preventing a second term for Obama; they have promised to fight every measure that could give this President any credit, and have stated their intent to return to the policies of the Bush years. Instead off seeking to work together toward the common good they cast us (and Democratic leaders) as "the enemy".




With this kind of thing in their own ranks, it's difficult to imagine any serious castigation of the notorious talking heads. More's the pity.

-

[Clio the Leo]

8. Oh, I agree .....

.... it was politically motivated.

But to point fingers of blamed extending from fists clenched in righteous indignation gets us no where. What were the political leanings of the other people he killed? Half of them we know, half we dont.

It doesn't matter. He didn't kill Democrats or Republicans. He killed our brothers and sisters in the family of man.

[Lifelong Protester]

11. I believe we must move past finger pointing, but I am one of those

persons who must get the "righteous indignation" out of my system-verbally, I must add, before I can move on to the work that must be done. I am more 'there' today than I was this weekend.

[Clio the Leo]

12. Vent if you must....

.... but, remember, words can wound as well.

[frazzled]

3. "It is all a descending spiral ..."

How wise Dr. King was. He dedicated his life to nonviolence and to turning the other cheek. I'll never forget how he perservered in Chicago, even with bottles being hurled at him in the streets and death threats all around. He had a hard time convincing his own supporters not to succumb to retribution. He was dismissed by many for his position on nonviolence, in the face of all the violence that had been perpetrated on African Americans in this country. He gave his life for this belief. And he was right.

This is what has obsessed me this weekend (before this weekend, actually: over the last year; this weekend has only brought it into focus). I have been thinking long and hard about the insanity of hatred and ridicule and the meaning of harsh words, and about recommitting myself to try hard not to give in to sarcasm and cynicism and generalization and hyperbole. And to not care when people laugh at me or attack me for wanting to end the cycle of vitriol. Because really, it is all a descending spiral, and we have to take the first step. No matter how unfair that may sound. No matter how innocent we may be. No matter how right we may feel in our convictions. Because we have to try follow the example of the Kings and lead the way.

Thank you for putting pictures to my feelings.

[Clio the Leo]

9. And thank YOU for sharing your feelings....

... any time we put another person down, we do it to build ourselves up. That's true if we're talking about members of the opposite party, or members of our own party with whom we disagree. ;) ... I've been guilty of it myself.

There is nothing inherently evil about a Republican. Deep down, the average conservative simply wants to see this country succeed and do well in it, just like we do. I think we'd all agree their methods and philosophies are flawed, but they're not inhuman or vile.

If a sick member of our family ... or our town or religion or what have you ... did something like this and if everyone blamed us for being associated with that person, the natural reaction would be to turn it back on them. And that's exactly what's happening. A United States Congresswoman was SHOT IN THE HEAD serving her country ... and six other people died as innocent bystanders. Yet, here we are, fighting who's to blame.

Yes, very vile things are said about the President (and others) and the GOP has largely condoned it. But it's unfair to blame members of the party for the actions of an apparently sick individual.

We need to calm the rhetoric and finger pointing is not the way to do it.

(I know you'll largely agree with me, thanks for letting me rant.)

[Faryn Balyncd]

5. Inspiring post, and the right approach. Thanks. K&R.

:kick:

[emilyg]

6. K/R

[white_wolf]

10. As Buddha said

"Hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love alone is healed. This is an ancient and eternal law."

[woo me with science]

13. Kicked and recommended.

Wouldn't it be nice to see more of that.