No art right now. Because of the tragic shooting of 20 people on the northwest side of Tucson yesterday, I want to join my prayers and thoughts for recovery and restoration and comfort for the families and victims of this horrific event.
There is optimism concerning Representative Giffords' prognosis. She is in a medically induced coma for her benefit. There are others who are doing better as well. I am thankful she is alive, and for the survival of the other victims. It was sickening, both physically and emotionally, to have had such a reprehensible act take place in our community. My hope is that those who visit Tucson and read about this tragedy will consider that this event does not represent the people of Arizona, or Tucson.
May all those families affected be comforted by the heartfelt support and love being sent forth from all of us. Thank you for remembering these victims with me. Update: A woman, who had been standing in line (update: she was not shot), bravely approached the shooter and grabbed the gun magazine away from him as he reloaded, thereby preventing further injuries. My kind of woman/human being.
Update #2: A profound sense of healing covered Tucson yesterday as citizens gathered to memorialize those who died and those who are trying to recover. President Obama's words were good medicine for all of us. We could see in his eyes and in First Lady Michelle's eyes, all the sorrow, empathy and hope, that we are all feeling as a community and nation.
15 comments:
Amen. They are in my prayers too.
Joan
I join in your candle lighting Melinda.
I know you've had a personal involvement which heightens the degree of how despicable this is.
One can as much blame Tucson for this as they could blame the Gulf of Mexico for the oil spill.
Demented minds are everywhere, fueled by rhetoric that is quite dangerous as we keep seeing over and over.
I would always choose to turn towards thinkers like you, whose clear and graceful thinking must resound louder than hatred and cross hairs.
Thank you, Joan.
Thank you, Bonnie. I agree with you wholeheartedly. It is paramount that we recognize the power of words and how they can inflame the troubled mind, or push citizens under great pressure to do horrendous things.
I hope those who have died will be honored with a renewed, respectful political conversation. We need more civility.
Beautifully said. My thoughts are with everyone involved, with heartfelt wishes that this horrific event will slow the tide of hate speech that passes for political discourse in this country.
Tragic and nauseating - I too, thought of you yesterday, Melinda. My initial reaction foremost was that there are too many guns available floating around at anyone's disposal at the drop of a hat!
The gunman, 22 years of age, handily purchased his weapon earlier in November without so much as the blink of an eye.
I pray that the right to bear arms written in 1791 be seriously rethought and come under serious revision!
I too pray for the victims of this obscene and nauseating tragedy - I also pray for the survival of grassroots democracy which this kind of senseless violence puts in grave danger.
Here's to brave women. Blessings on them and you.
Thank you, all. My eyes fill regularly today for the loss of such innocent life, the life of a mother's child, and for the darkness that has descended on our little pueblo.
This is not the Tucson I have known in the past. There is an epidemic of brutality and I am hopeful that our nation and our world will turn away from the poison.
Thank you for your kind words and prayers for these wonderful people we lost on Saturday. May we never forget them.
Wishing you peace.
Melinda,
You and your family came to my mind when I heard of the tragedy. Wishes for healing, hope, understanding and peace for all.
Linny
Melinda,
My thoughts are with you and the victims. All day I've been listening to the news. I am so sorry that this travesty happened in your city.
And I agree that it could and has happened anywhere and everywhere, and that the grace and kindness and intelligence and heart of your thinking and writing, and painting are what is needed in the world.
Barbara
Thank you, Linny.
Thank you, Barbara. Yes, may we all renew our dedication to those things that heal saddened hearts:
Art
Friendships
Love and generosity
We will get back to these things.
Thank you, Melinda, for saying what so many feel about this act. While the media has focused on Arizona as a hotbed of extremism, I think the far darker truth is that this was the product of a broad undercurrent of violence and extremist thought that runs throughout our culture.
My thoughs are with the victims and their families and friends. I hope that the shock from this may start the rest of us on a path of redemption from the gathering darkness.
Thank you, Donald.
It would honor those killed and injured if we now have a respectful and serious discussion about how we want to create a better, kinder culture.
Wishing you peace.
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