The tragic shooting in Tucson this past Saturday will bring the country together to mourn this senseless loss of life. We will learn about the victims and their families and reflect on how fleeting life really is. Unfortunately there will be those who use this tragedy as an opportunity to seek political advantage.
In the coming weeks pundits and lawmakers on the right will say that this tragedy shows just how angry the country is with the direction in which Obama is taking the country. And the left will say that the hate speech promoted by the right led to the actions of a troubled individual. In so doing they will turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the basic lesson that this tragedy should teach us. Our words do matter.
To think otherwise ignores history. Some people have the ability to inspire us. With a simple phrase others can move us to tears. People are promoted and elected in part for their ability to motivate. “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” These few words motivated millions to seek a life of public service. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” galvanized a country at a time of war. Kennedy and FDR are remembered for these few brief words because of the positive effect they had on the populace. Is it not therefore reasonable to assume that encouraging angry constituents to “Reload”, publishing a “target list” and referring to Congressmen as “dead men” can have a similar effect?
Words are powerful. They have consequences. We need to be very careful how we use them.
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