Face of Hope

Yesterday I was volunteering at the King County Crisis Clinic when my fellow phone workers and I heard of the Arizona shooting where Rep. Giffords and others were either wounded or killed. What I found interesting was that the calls which I and fellow volunteers received yesterday were more unusual than average. We are not at liberty to discuss the details of our calls, for privacy reasons, however many of the calls were from people who were more upset, disturbed and troubled than usual. I don't know if something was in the air yesterday or what, but I do believe that there has been a dramatic shift in the way people treat others, treat themselves, and treat any living being they come across and perhaps this shift away from civility is impacting each person and our society in dramatic ways.

Let me flash back for a moment. I remember one day when I was an early teen, and another boy who was an older teen was driving both of us from my house to a friend's place. While racing down a back road on Whidbey Island we both saw a cat crossing the street. What he did is hard for me to even write as I recall the event. He increased the speed of the car, aggressively jerked the wheel toward this cat and ran the poor animal, someones loving pet, over. What would possess someone to do such a thing?

I don't know the answer. However, I do believe that the more we in society disconnect ourselves from each other, from a bond with animals that we should share the planets limited space with and from mother earth herself, then the easier it is for each of us to commit heinous acts like the one I mentioned above and the example of this troubled 22 year old shooter from yesterday.

There was a great 20 minute or longer press conference with Sheriff Dupnik of Pima County, where this incident took place, who spoke about the hateful messages that radio and TV commentators start and perpetuate. Here is a short clip of the end of his message:

What I believe is so true is what he said at the end, after being questioned by the reporter, that people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol. We can't expect to have politicians say there are "second amendment remedies" to her opponent winning a fair election, or another have actual bulls eye targets over candidates (as one was placed over Rep. Giffords district) or any other words of hate and fear based speeches without realizing that this type of politics has consequences.

I think as long as hateful speak, fear tactics and misleading and incorrect information has a market it will be seen all over our media. What we have to do as individuals is turn off Fox News, turn off MSNBC, turn off CNN, turn off the radio shows, when any one of them makes hateful claims or simply presents the news in a biased, dishonest manner. Don't allow yourself to get sucked into this disgusting drama.

With all the important discussion of the attempted assassination attempt on the Congresswoman's life I think attention has been taken from another victim, unfortunately who passed away at the hospital because of a shot to her chest, who was only 9 years old. The beautiful girl, Christina, was born on 9/11/2001. She was one of many babies featured in a book called "Faces of Hope," with other children who were born on 9/11.

Her father said something to the effect of "she came into this world on a day of tragedy... and she has excited now in a tragic way." Her mother said she wants her "memory to live on... she is a face of hope, face of change, of coming together as a country. [We need] to stop the violence and hatred and evil words and for us to just bring awareness that there's people out there who have these problems and we have to protect our government officials and our innocent young children.... it's not right, it has to stop."

I titled this entry "Face of Hope," in memory of those who were killed, with thoughts of those who were injured and for hope toward a better future. Here is a picture of the 9 year old girl:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

I don't know that I have the best solutions to the questions, I don't even know that I know the best questions to ask, however a conversation about this needs to occur. I do feel that there is something each one of us can do and that is to be present and aware of each word we speak. Are we speaking with hate, anger, fear, frustration or are we speaking out of love, understanding, acceptance, and with patience?

If each one of us would take responsibility for ourselves, act with loving-kindness toward our fellow human, our animals and our planet, such a simple request, then we would move our world of too much evil and hatred toward a more peaceful, connected and loving environment.