Comments | wook77: Gabrielle Giffords

wook77

Gabrielle Giffords

Jan 08, 2011 22:01

I love my town. I chose to move to Tucson for many (and varied) reasons, not the least of which was the weather. More than the weather, though, is the relaxed atmosphere, the fantastic people and the fact that Tucson skews towards the higher educated and more liberal than the rest of the state of Arizona. It's got a small town mentality in a small ( Read more... )

thoughts on..., wibble, rambling, woe, politics, rant, introspection, tldr

Comments 20

enchanted_jae January 9 2011, 05:35:00 UTC

I saw the headline online earlier and was horrified.

wook77 January 9 2011, 06:35:01 UTC

It's just so freaking crazy. I was glued to the news all freaking day. So crazy that it can happen in Tucson, especially.

waxbean January 9 2011, 06:05:19 UTC

This is so disheartening. Been thinking about you as much as the victims today. XoM

wook77 January 9 2011, 06:35:59 UTC

<3<3<3 Danke!

And yeah - this is just so awful. I keep hearing about how other representatives are leery of hosting town-hall style meet-and-greets. Sounds like one of the things coming out of this is less accessibility for the people to their representatives. I hope that isn't true because that's just crushing.

waxbean January 10 2011, 02:35:45 UTC

I completely agree- of course, all my local officials are NOT folks I particularly want to meet, myself.

I've been meaning to call and/or email to ask if you'd like a girl night soon? I'd love to come to you, haul you around for food and films, or whatever. Game?

wook77 January 10 2011, 03:16:59 UTC

Yeah. I'm thankful I have ppl like Gabrielle Giffords. TBH - I don't agree with her on all the issues but I have met her many times and she's a passionate, amazing woman with a great head on her shoulders and, even more importantly, fantastic listening skills. When you speak to her, you can tell that she's listening rather than pretending to listen.

That would be amazing, btw. You just let me know when! I'm actually now walking around with no boot on, which is freaking AWESOME. I also have a guest room that you are more than welcome to sleep in (though it does have a futon but I've been told it's really comfy)!

SO EXCITED!

emmagrant01 January 9 2011, 06:23:11 UTC

I spent 14 years of my adult life in Tucson. It was a chosen hometown for me as well, and it was with a bit of regret that I left 8 years ago. It was crazy to sit on the sofa today with my husband (we both went to college and grad school at the U of A, and got married in Tucson) and watch the coverage. Tucson is about as Anytown as it gets, and it's just crazy to see something like that happen there.

Sarah Palin seems to be covering her ass tonight, though. And it was refreshing to see the Pima County sheriff on TV going off on the people who incite hatred and violence.

I'm actually going to be in Tucson next weekend. I've been meaning to email you and see if you want to get together for coffee.

wook77 January 9 2011, 06:34:11 UTC

Yeah, she really does. She's scrubbed a lot of crazy rhetoric but, thankfully, people screencap and keep things. The sad bit is that it's not just her. It's the "second amendment remedies" comments and the "tiller the baby killer" and everything.

I have this sinking feeling that the rhetoric isn't going to change, not with the defense of it sprouting up on a few of the major right-wing blogs and the ZOMGHOWDARETHEY commentary.

Oh that would be AWESOME! I'm still rather carless but I'm certain I'll be allowed to drive by then and we can meet up!

ozma_katiebell January 9 2011, 07:00:13 UTC

This. All of it. Well said.

wook77 January 10 2011, 03:18:49 UTC

Danke! Regardless of political affiliation, we have to get back to discussion of issues rather than vitriolic attacks on others, whether it's ads calling people Hitler or whatever on either side. I just want to hear what people think about the issues. I don't need demonizing and I especially don't want/need violent rhetoric.

lurkitty January 9 2011, 07:39:43 UTC

I heard about this fairly early on this morning and read several accounts, including the one on FOX News website. The comments on FOX were horrific, first people spreading the rumor that it was a Mexican, then others saying it was a "Leftist" trying to make a case for Obama to take away everyone's guns.

Links to the shooter's YouTube videos show that he was a very disturbed individual who thought the government was engaging in mind control. It's hard to say if he was linked to the Tea Party, as some allege, but I can't help but think that the right-wing rhetoric about "Second Amendment remedies" and the crosshairs on Palin's map may have had an effect on a disturbed mind.

The sad part is that this probably won't result in anyone being more circumspect about their rhetoric because the folks who are the worst offenders won't be listening.

wook77 January 10 2011, 03:25:07 UTC

Yeah, I'm shocked at all the rumors. I figured, from the area of town, that it would be a white person. I used to live up there (that was my grocery store when I was in college) and it's a very insular neighborhood with very little diversity around it ( ... )