I have watched the political "debate" with growing concern. No longer do people listen and respond to rational arguments. More often than not, they shout their own opinion, louder and louder, until their three minute spot on the television is over. Discussion seems to live only on the PBS show, NewsHour. Many don't see an inherent problem with this type of "debate." But I do. There is a lack of respect for each other when people can not listen to the other person's opinion and respond civilly. People's desire to attack the individual and not the individual's ideas point to this lack of respect. We are not what we think. We are all humans with feelings and thoughts and a desire to love and be loved. What we think is formed from the lives that we lead. Our thoughts do not define who we are but rather reflect our backgrounds. There is no reason then to attack an individual for their thoughts. We only show our own ignorance and lack of respect when we do.
This lack of respect has lead to the shootings in Arizona. Many would suggest that he acted alone, that he was not influenced by recent political images showing cross-hairs on people who have voted in ways that go against others' beliefs. Perhaps he wasn't but, unless he lived in a cave, it is impossible to not be affected by the culture of hate and disrespect that pervades our society today. From slogans like "Don't Retreat, RELOAD," to violent video games that sanitize killing to movies that glorify bloodshed, we romanticize violence as a justifiable means to an end. Television talk shows invite vitriolic guests and encourage disrespectful discourse. Even common courtesies, such as "please," "thank you," holding the door for the person behind you or a gentleman removing his hat indoors are seen as quaint and archaic. In this atmosphere, even the most inept person would notice the general feelings of disdain for others and would be influenced by it.
That is why I see Christina's death is symbolic. She was born on September 11, 2001, the day when we came together as a nation against an attack from a people who showed us no respect. It is the day that it didn't matter if you were Republican, Democrat, straight, gay, black, white, Latino, Christian, or Jewish. You were American. Together, we stood as one pledging our unity against those who would do us harm. Christina was a baby of "hope", born on a tragic day to remind us that life goes on. She represented the best of America. She reminded us of the day we came together and why we continue to try to bring peace to the world. It was for Christina, and all children, that we continue to look for ways to overcome the deficit and cures for cancer. Christina encouraged us to find a way to stem the tide of drugs coming into the country and being used. Christina asked us to be the best we could be and do the best we could do because she, and her generation, needed us to succeed and needed us to show her how to become successful adults. Because of this, I believe her death is symbolic of how far we have sunk into the abyss, of how we have allowed disrespect and partisan politics to destroy what was once good. Although we condemn her death, we have allowed an atmosphere of incivility to fester and grow, thus making us accomplices in her death.
I hope that the violence in Tuscon, more specifically Christina's death, is a wake-up call to the rest of us that we are teetering on the rim of a pit from which there is no return. I hope that we start to denounce divisive ideals and realize that our reclamation comes from working together. I hope that we learn that words are as hurtful as sticks and stones and guns and start to choose our words and our actions with care, knowing they will damage us as badly as they will damage others. I hope Christina, and all she symbolizes, has not died in vain.
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