Sarah Palin is getting a lot of bad press over the Arizona shootings. In my opinion it is deserved. But not only Sarah should get blame here, anyone who uses violent speak or images in politics should be blamed. Sarah has done an awful lot of that. I will explain why I feel that way here.
Do I think that Sarah Palin wanted any type of violence, much less a shooting where people, including a nine year old were killed? No, not for a second. Do I think that most people reading her comments would have resorted to violence? Again my answer is a resounding no. But the problem with any group is the people on the fringe. The people who for whatever reason will take anything they hear or read literally.
The problem is not just Sarah Palin, the Tea Party or the right. The problem lies in the fact that this kind of rhetoric is used by all sides. I read on a friends FB page today that someone said that Sarah Palin should be shot. Really? How could that person think that is an acceptable thing to say? It is also very unproductive. If we want to start solving problems we need open and honest discussion. Talk of violence or hate have no place in politics or anywhere else for that matter.
I also want to talk about the people involved in this tragedy and all tragedys such as this one. Whenever something like this happens the focus is always on the famous victim(s). When the hospital spokesman spoke today he said now on to who everyone is wondering about. I can’t speak for anyone else, but all of the victims involved in this tragedy. For instance I am very concerned that a nine year old will never graduate from high scool or college, go on a first date, get married, have children. Her parents will never get to beam at her as she walks across a stage to get her diploma, her dad will never be able to walk her down the aisle and her mom will never get to help her pick out a wedding gown. What I’m trying to say is there was more than one victim here. Several lives were lost. Several people were injured, some critically. And many family members lives have been forever altered. I pray for them all.
The perpetrator of this crime was a mentally ill man. Something that a lot of people evidentally knew about. He lived with his parents, why didn’t they try to do something to get him help? Mental illness is a huge issue here, at least as big as the issue of violent rhetoric. Mentally ill people need help, and they don't always realize they are mentally ill or if they do, they don't want to get the help they need. More important than new gun laws, are new laws to allow people who have a mentally ill person in their lives who refuse to get help get them the help they need. We also need more help for mentally ill people. Insurance is huge. It is not acceptable for mentally ill people (and I mean seriously mentall ill people who are dangerous) to have to go without the help they need because they do not have insurance. How many tragedies could have been avoided if the perpetrators had the help they needed? I'm not saying that everyone who does something like this is mentally ill, but I am willing to bet a large amount are. The investigation is still in its early stages, so I am sure more will come out about the shooter. Hopefully we will find out people did at least try to get him help. The sad part to me is that his sentence may be served in a padded cell because of his mental illness. The professional, psych part of me knows that if he is indeed declared mentally ill, he should be in a psych ward, but most of me wants him to spend his life in jail or get the death sentence.
Janet Lee Smith
01/10/11
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