We Simply Don't Know

Sunday, January 9, 2011
We simply don't know what motivated yesterday's shootings in Tucson, AZ. We don't know if the individual(s) responsible were "inspired" by politics, or religion, or history, or were just plain-jane whackjobs whose mental capacity is so far gone we'll never know what the point was.

We don't know. So I think it's appropriate for both sides to stop assigning blame and wildly speculating about matters where there's not yet a clear answer. Because it's not helping, you see.

But there's something we do know - the vile rhetoric and incitement to violence that has recently characterized the populist right's position isn't helping, either. So to Sarah, Sharon, Glenn, Rush, et al: Don't you think it's past time for you all to shut the fuck up? Because regardless of whether or not yesterday's tragic events were inspired by your comments, the fact of the matter is that such behavior is seditious. And since that's such a big word, here's a little something to help you figure it out:

se·di·tion. [si-dish-uhn]  –noun
1. incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government.
2. any action, esp. in speech or writing, promoting such discontent or rebellion.
3. Archaic . rebellious disorder

8 comments:

Megan said...

Mentally ill people are particularly vulnerable to suggestion. It doesn't have to be a suggestion from someone with an ideology the mentally ill person supports.

Jim Wright said...

I'll second the motion.

Janiece said...

Megan, that is absolutely true, but I don't believe there's currently any evidence that the suspect was influenced by the right-wing nutjubs.

Random Michelle K said...

Regardless of what motivated the gunman, rhetoric spoken by Palin and her ilk used violent, militant terms in their exhortations to overthrow Democrats. And for that, I hold her and those like her in contempt.

You don't get to paint targets on someone and then act all shocked when people want you to take responsibility when someone acts out your implicit and explicit requests.

FURTHERMORE, such explicit rhetoric should never come from a public figure who touts the use of firearms for fun and sport.

Just as you never ever EVER point a gun at someone unless you mean to pull the trigger, public figures should not use such violent rhetoric in public discourse.

Politics is not war. Nor should it be the place for violent terms of aggression and bloodletting.

Shame on Palin and others like her for not knowing this, and as serving as such a poor example.

mom in northern said...

Ditto all the above.

Janiece said...

Michelle, I don't disagree. As I noted, I don't think "sedition" is too strong a word to apply to such nonsense.

Random Michelle K said...

I know.

I just get enraged thinking about how unearned accumulated political power keeps Palin from having to answer for her words and actions and it makes me babble incoherently.

Janiece said...

Michelle, I believe the term is, "apoplectic with rage."