The Ironies of a Republic

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords walks to the congressional podium on the first day of her third term in office to read with her colleagues the Constitution of the United States. Her passage turns out to be the First Amendment, proclaiming the right of free and unfettered assembly.

She returns to hometown Tucson, Arizona to apply that very amendment to her life and the lives of her constituents. She holds a Congress on Your Corner meeting as she has done often in the past. She is shot along with 19 of her constituents some of whom die while she continues to fight for her life.

One of those who died was a nine-year-old girl (born on September 11, 2001) who was becoming interested in the political process and so wanted to attend this meeting on the corner to see her government at work.

Another was a Federal District Court Judge who had gone to the grocery store on Saturday morning and seen his governmental colleague holding a meeting and stopped to say hello. No matter how famous, how important we are, we all have ordinary lives and do ordinary things like go to the grocery on a Saturday morning.

Several others of those killed were in their late 70s and early 80s and it occurs that they may have been there to have their say about the health care bill ~ tell the Congresswoman how they felt and find out her thoughts and how she planned to vote.

A young staff member was killed and all that has been said about him is how wonderful he was, a social worker, a caring, compassionate member of society doing his best to make the world a better place. He thought he might be able to do that by working with a caring and compassionate woman in Congress.

Rep. Giffords, willing to get deeply involved in the muck and mire that can sometimes be politics in this country, was married to a military pilot who had piloted the Space Shuttle, a man who was willing to fight for and explore for the freedoms this country stands for.

Amidst all the partisan politics, ugly rhetoric and infighting taking place in government right now, everyone I heard speak about Rep. Giffords, said she was honest, hardworking, kind, and open. When the soul of the nation is ripped open, we become a small, caring, wiser community. We recognize our similarities and how special we are, each and every one. We come together if only for a few brief moments to declare with one voice that Evil shall not win and Light and Love are the prominent characteristics that define us.

It is ironic that it takes the blood of our citizens to remind us of that. ~ blessings on us all