Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, speaking about Arizona:
"When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous. And, unfortunately, Arizona I think has become sort of the capital. We have become the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry.
"It's not unusual for all public officials to get threats constantly, myself included. And that's the sad thing of what's going on in America. Pretty soon, we're not going to be able to find reasonable, decent people who are willing to subject themselves to serve in public office." -A-freaking-men.
Yesterday's tragic shooting at a Safeway grocery store in Arizona killed six people, including a 9 year old girl, and wounded many others, including a devastating head injury to Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is probably not out of the woods yet and fighting for her life. It's a miracle she's still alive after a bullet to the head.
Something has to change in this country. This is reminding me of guerilla warfare tactics in third world countries. What is America coming to, if our elected public officials fear for their lives every time they go out in public? We are better than this, Democrats and Republicans alike. This is not a political party issue, we must all unite that the hatred has to stop. Put away your political zeal for wanting the entire nation to believe the same way you do. We were founded on the belief that a democratic system could work, after all, because our founders wanted to get AWAY from a system where everything was decided for them. It's okay to not agree with the choices your government is making. But if the response is to go out and shoot someone, maybe we need to look a little closer at the line between free speech and hate speech.
Love your government leaders, no matter what party they are. Pray for them, even if you don't agree with them. There's always a chance to make your voice heard...it's called voting. We are blessed beyond belief in this country with our freedom of choice, freedom of speech, but this way of acting out...of killing our elected public officials...this is not right. Maybe we as a country need to make a change in the way we express our opinions about the "other" side, the one we didn't vote for. The hate definitely goes both ways, and look where it's gotten us so far. I know quite a few people in my own life who spew such HATEFUL messages both ways...it's time to take a look at what your words are really doing.
My heart breaks for the families who lost loved ones yesterday.
amen sister.
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