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Nobody's Inspired By The Blame Game

Author: James Smith
by James Smith
Posted: Jun 27, 2014

Nobody's Inspired By The Blame Game

A little over a week ago in Tucson, Arizona, some nut named Jared Loughlin opened fire at a Congresswoman's community gathering, critically wounding her and killing and wounding several others. It's a national tragedy that few people would not have heard about by now.

Within two hours of the shooting, before the perpetrator's identity was even known to the press and public, left-wing pundits in no less a forum than the New York Times' web site were speculating that, despite a lack of any evidence, the notion that the shooter was "inspired" by vitriolic conservative rhetoric was "a good bet." Talking heads on the left-leaning media continued to politicize the event throughout that weekend and into last week, claiming such conservative voices as talk radio, Fox News, and Sarah Palin were responsible for this and other acts of violence.

No one was inspired by that.

The right fought back, pointing out not only a complete lack of evidence that Loughlin was inspired by conservative speech, but also the many indications that his political influences would have come, if from anywhere, from the left. Loughlin liked to read the works of Karl Marx and Adolph Hitler. He hated George W. Bush (even thought Bush was behind the 9-11 attacks). His friends described him as a pot-smoking hippie, and were the first to say his political leanings, if any, were leftward.

No one was inspired by that.

The president, after waiting several days to check polling data and to have an anti-violence t-shirt logo designed, flew to Arizona to preside over a "memorial service." Packing the crowd with students and liberals, the president and his handlers pulled off an event punctuated by loud cheers and applause that gave Mr. Obama's camp-revival style of oratory a perfect stage. He gave a good speech, and I have to give him credit for saying some of the best things I've ever heard him say (including a mention that right-wing rhetoric was not to blame for the Tucson shooting). But, lacking solemnity, the whole thing sounded more like a political pep rally than a memorial for the wounded and fallen.

No one was inspired by that.

Meanwhile, Rep. Gabby Giffords, shot in the head by Loughlin, lay in critical condition in the local hospital. At first, doctors said they did not hold much hope that Ms. Giffords would recover. But then more hopeful announcements were made by doctors, and have continued in a steady stream since hours after Giffords' initial surgery: the swelling looks pretty good after a day or two... after three days, we should be able to tell from the swelling how well she's responding, and it looks good... she responded to commands... she opened her eyes!... she drew breath on her own!... and just today, the announcement that her main breathing tube has been removed, and she might soon be able to speak. And her condition was upgraded from "critical" to "serious."

Now, that's inspiring.

Too much time and energy have been spent by the major institutions of our country (news media, infotainment, government) in debating who or what was responsible for the shooting of Gabby Giffords and others on January 8. It hasn't inspired anyone. Not enough time and energy have gone toward considering who or what is responsible for her recovery, described by her own doctors as nothing short of "miraculous."

Here on Earth, perhaps Rep. Giffords owes some of her recovery to the greatest medical system ever devised by mankind. Maybe we should all say a prayer of thanksgiving, or at least acknowledge how blessed we are to live in a country where (at least today) such great care is available. I guess that's somewhat inspiring. But the Divine influence on Ms. Giffords, on her doctors, on an anxious public full of ordinary people who are rooting for her recovery... now, that's REALLY inspiring.

Find a way to get inspired. If you can find inspiration from the recovery of Gabby Giffords, find it. Grasp it, and don't let go! Inspiration is a precious thing. It will help you to stay healthier yourself, to go about your business in the best way possible, and to better resist the dark forces at work in the world today.

Let's get inspired. Let's stop talking about how Gabby Giffords got into a hospital bed, and start talking about how she might, against all odds, one day climb out of it.

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Author: James Smith

James Smith

Member since: May 30, 2013
Published articles: 13

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