TheBanyanTree: Mental Illness Ain't No Picnic

[Jena Norton]

The sheriff of Pima County was so vocal on this subject. And it surprised me
to hear a cop in a conservative area question the rhetoric in politics
today. I agree with Julie about the political climate today. It reminds me
of what I read about politics preceding the Civil War. 

I own guns and was raised around them, but I have a problem with people who
think we should all carry guns everywhere. I found it ironic that one of the
heroes of Saturday was a young man who was carrying a concealed legal weapon
when he went running out to help when he heard the shots. He helped wrestle
the shooter to the ground and hold him until the police came.

It's all horrible, but the little girl that died is the one I think most of
us are focused on. I keep hoping this incident will cause many people to
reflect and think twice about what they say and how they say it. The nation
needs desperately to reflect on how to disagree without rancor and hatred.

Jena Norton


-----Original Message-----
From: thebanyantree-bounces at lists.remsset.com
[mailto:thebanyantree-bounces at lists.remsset.com] On Behalf Of Julie Anna
Teague
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 5:06 AM
To: thebanyantree at lists.remsset.com
Subject: Re: TheBanyanTree: Mental Illness Ain't No Picnic

Quoting Sally Larwood <larwos at optusnet.com.au>:

> Getting back to the actual incident.  My husband keeps asking me what my
> American friends think about this latest incident.  Does it make more
> Americans think about the gun issue?

I always think about the gun issue.  My brother is (mostly) mentally 
stable.  Ok, he's fine, really. And he owns an AK-47.  Seriously?  But 
I think a lot more about the very deep philosophical divide in this 
country and the hatred and hate speech that that foments.  I've 
followed politics my whole life and I've never heard hate rhetoric like 
I hear now.  Comments like putting someone in the "crosshairs" has to 
stop.  It makes me sick.  Someone who speaks in a peaceful way, like 
Jimmy Carter, who I always greatly admired as a peaceful humanitarian 
and still do, can no longer make it in politics.  When a well known 
politico says things like "How's that hopey-changey thing working out 
for you?" it makes me sick.  I still hope for change, and a lot of 
other things.