Tucson Weekly columnist Tom Danehy comments on the state of Tucson in the wake of the Saturday’s shooting:
Giffords had confounded people by holding court in a district — a state, really — that has developed a decidedly conservative edge. And an increasingly sharp one at that. She beat, in order, a border zealot, a rising star from the state legislature, and, just a couple months ago, a Tea Party stud straight out of Central Casting — as in tall, white, handsome, white, ex-military, and, of course, white. She supported, in order, the passing of President Obama’s health-care plan, the repeal of Jan Brewer’s controversial SB1070 immigration bill, and the increase of the Border Patrol’s presence in town. Her most effective campaign commercial last year featured a craggy-faced Cochise County rancher — a lifelong Republican, probably — who said he would vote for her because “Gabrielle Giffords gets it.”
So the most confounding thing about her shooting this weekend — besides conflicting reports as to whether Giffords was actually alive — was not why some nutjob would do such a thing. It was how nutty things have gotten around here so quickly, and why getting angry is getting to be a surprisingly unsurprising experience.
“When SB1070 happened, I would go out of my way to tell people that Tucson was different from the rest of Arizona,” said Hayley Evans, a Tucsonan and former Giffords intern whose weekend sporting match — a crew race for GW in Florida — was also shrouded in tragedy. “And now this.”
This article appears in Jan 6-12, 2011.
Just a comment to always remember that the actions, thoughts, and beliefs of one nutjob is by no means representative of a the actions, thoughts or beliefs of an entire community. Consider a few other nutjobs from the past such as John Hinckley, Jr (Ronald Reagan) or Mark David Chapman (John Lennon). There are simply just nutjobs in this world.
I’d love to throw all of my anger from this tragedy at the tea party, Jan Brewer, SB1070, ratings focused news channels that manufacture hate for profit, or simply the terrible two party based system we have in this country which prospers on dividing people. However, at the end of the day, I think this guy is just a nutjob.
I can only hope that this particular nutjob will help bring attention to the need for the country to focus on education, mental health, and positive change.