Where Is The Common Ground?

Saturday, January 8, 2011 brought us the unfortunate incident in Arizona where the Congresswoman from Arizona was shot in the head and something like 6 people killed and lot more wounded. I’m not sure what the motivation was for the suspect’s actions, but even if it is a case of being unstable, it is still the wrong actions to take to try to administer retribution or influence the actions of others.

Sadly, there are those on both sides of the political aisle that are blaming their opposites. While some try to attach the perpetrator to the conservatism, others try to attach him to the liberal side of the political spectrum. Some say that he is a part of the Tea Party movement, but others point out that he had written on one of his “social media” sites that his favorite books were The Communist Manifesto and Mein Kampf.

However, I wonder where the voices are that condemn the man based on his actions and not necessarily his politics. Admittedly, I am very much a conservative politically, but more than that, I am a Christian. There are nut cases on both sides of the aisle, with people like the Uni-bomber being on the left and abortion doctor killers on the right. Each of those “sides” felt the need to avenge some wrong, but we should all be condemning all wrong.

Killing abortion doctors is as wrong as killing babies, even if the method is abortion. Shooting the Arizona Democratic Party Congresswoman is wrong, regardless of her beliefs. While I can condemn her IF she is a supporter of abortion, I can also praise her if she adheres to other beneficial beliefs. Since she is a newly elected Congresswoman, I have no idea of her philosophies or of what she may have done in the past. I just find it abhorrent that someone feels the need to administer violence for much of any reason.

I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment, I own and use firearms, and I firmly believe that one can use deadly force in protecting one’s family or one’s self. Beyond that, I find it difficult to find many other reasons for violence.

It would just be nice if the citizens of our nation could regain the feeling of unity after we have suffered attacks upon our nation and our peoples. The nation pretty much rallied together after Pearl Harbor and after September 11, 2001. In both cases, our citizens were in danger and waging war on the perpetrators, and their supporters, was justified.

I just can’t find any good reason for attacking a duly elected official of our government. If one has conducted themselves illegally, there are legal means to address the issue. If there are moral outrages the official has done, there is the ballot box, and sometimes the option of recalling that official.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those injured in the Arizona shooting for a speedy and full recovery. In addition, they also go out to the families of those that were killed. God bless them all.