the design conservative | tdc

choices: honoring life or blaming sarah

The start of a new year is supposed to be a time of joy and optimism for the future that lay before us.  Sadly, for 19 American families, one violent young man abruptly put a halt to the celebration.

HONORING LIFE

First, let me say that my heart and my prayers have been with the victims of today’s shooting in Arizona since I first learned of these despicable events. 

As those who were killed are mourned and the wounded recover, our foremost concern should be for the well-being of each of the families touched by this tragedy.  Though most Americans share this sentiment and are equally saddened by what has transpired, I am amazed and disheartened by the other - blatantly political - responses that have paralleled the genuine concern widely expressed.

Needless to say, I felt compelled to share a few (albeit rough) thoughts here.

BLAMING SARAH

As if the loss of life were not enough, today has also been remarkable for the way that some individuals (many of whom should know better) have chosen to condemn Governor Palin for what happened this morning.

Blaming Sarah Palin for various events and random occurences has become so commonplace that most of us respond to the accusations with more amusement than concern. 

Today, however, the “blame Sarah” meme was more difficult to dismiss.

The fact that the loss of multiple lives - including a 30-year-old engaged to be married, and a young girl born on 9-11 - would lead some to condemn Governor Palin before the murderer himself…well, that was truly appalling. 

All day long, as I intermittently watched commentary scroll by on Twitter or Facebook, I was at first dismayed by what I saw, then saddened by it. 

Individuals, whose conduct and achievements I generally respect, revealed another side to themselves today.  They illustrated, not only a lack of critical thought (based upon fact and fairness), but also the sort of irrationality that I have come to expect only from the “far Left”.

Without adequate information or background, these individuals took what the major media outlets were saying - namely that Governor Palin’s “Take Back the 20” illustration had incited the day’s violence - and repeated the charge.  I found this astounding, to say the least.

Regardless of one’s opinion of Sarah Palin, wouldn’t it be prudent to at least question the accusation that she, or any other political figure, is responsible for the taking of multiple lives?  What happened to the days of placing blame on the person who actually pulled the trigger?

The knee-jerk reaction to “blame Sarah Palin” is shameful.  Those who perpetrated this storyline have done themselves and our tradition of open political discourse a disservice.

CHOICES

We all have choices to make.

In Arizona, a disturbed man made the devastating decision to open fire on innocent men, women and children.  Subsequently, many in the media made the telling decision to ignore fact for the sake of insinuation. 

Meanwhile, Govenor Palin made the same choice she always does - to focus on what really matters.

I’m with her.

- tdc