Duck!
That’s cuh-ray-zee!
Here’s the statement that characterizes the “debate” to come. [It’s not really a ‘debate’ because, as with all political babble, the point is not to achieve a clearer understanding of the matter at hand, but to achieve greater political power.]
It is not possible now, and it may never be possible, to know if the perpetrator or perpetrators of this awful crime had political motives. The man identified as the shooter, Jared Loughner, appears to be mentally ill. ...Did he go over the edge because of something he heard on the radio, saw online or on TV?
How does one not grasp that someone who is mentally ill to this degree [Loughner shows all the earmarks of schizophrenia] Can. Not. have “political motivations” ?!? Can. Not.
Yet it seems that the “national discussion” about this terrible incident will involve all sorts of slur-bombs tossed from both sides about ‘incendiary language,’
The sheriff of Pima County, Clarence Dupnik, said “the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government” may have triggered Loughner’s rampage. “There’s reason to believe that this individual may have a mental issue and I think that people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol,” he said at a Tucson news conference.
...In an indictment of Arizona’s political culture, Dupnik described his state as ground zero for vitriol. “The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous,” he said. “And unfortunately, Arizona, I think, has become sort of the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry."
“Let me say one thing, because people tend to pooh-pooh this business about all the vitriol that we hear inflaming the American public by people who make a living off of doing that,” the sheriff said during a press conference. “That may be free speech, but it’s not without consequences.”
...Dupnik declared that “it’s time that this country take a little introspective look at the crap that comes out on radio and TV.”
WTH?!? I realize it was the most stressful day in the Sheriff’s career, but he, as a law enforcement professional, really ought to know better than to a] publicly pre-judge a case under investigation b] realize that mentally ill people are not using the same Reality as the rest of us c] this is no time to make political points.
“Could he have been set off by Glenn Beck’s rants?” will be asked time and again in the coming days by the sinistrosphere, MsNBC, et al. “Might he have been set off by Keith Uberdoosh?!?” will come from the dopier elements of the dextrosphere.
People! Stop making fools of yourselves. He could have been “set off” by a passing bird, by Beck’s hair-do/the reflection off Keith’s glasses, by a bent penny he found on the ground. As a ‘mentally ill’ person, he is not utilizing the same Reality we are. We cannot make sense of his worldview. That’s the definition of ‘mentally ill.’
His ‘reasons’ are opaque to us. Unavailable for discussion.
Yet we seem—insanely—unable to abide the concept that some things are unknowable. Some things do not make sense. Some things do “just happen.” Some things do not have any ‘meaning’ for the rest of us and should not have any ramifications.
Some things are ‘not about me,’ are none of my business, and have nothing to do with me.
Like this:
Because of the shootings, House Republicans postponed all legislation to be considered on the floor this week, including a vote to repeal the health care overhaul.
This has nothing to do with any other member of Congress; as it had nothing to do with Rep Giffords, herself. Or Judge Roll. Or any of the other individuals who were shot. nothing. Not about them. Impacted them; not about them. Not caused by them. Not attributable to them.
The shootings raised questions about potential political motives, and Sheriff Dupnik blamed the toxic political environment in Arizona. There were immediate national reverberations as Democrats denounced the fierce partisan atmosphere in Ms. Gifford’s district and top Republicans quickly condemned the violence.
Yet I watched as some dork from the Southern Poverty Law Center tried to interpret the ramblings Loughner left on EweToob—going so far as to proclaim that Loughner “really” meant ‘conscious’ when he said ‘conscience’ as the “right wing says a lot about conscious dreaming.” Whaaaaa?!?!?!?
That’s just… well, yanno.
ASIDE:
One thing that puzzles me: with their overwhelming need for ‘doing good’ and lust for power over others, why do we not see a ‘movement’ from the Progs toward setting up some sort of safe refuge for those among us who are so severely mentally ill that they can not take care of themselves? Social Services and Law Enforcement are well aware of the existence and numbers of such people—they deal with them every day. They hear ‘the voices told me to’ and ‘Captain Kirk is the father of my baby’ dang near every day, but, unless that person hurts themselves or others, they must be turned loose to wander the world, coping to the best of their abilities. Which ain’t so good.
We all see them every day, wandering the streets with bed roll - or without - muttering, hanging out on corners not looking at one another, lining up - too early or too late - at the soup kitchens. It’s really hard to concentrate on feeding and housing yourself when you’re preoccupied arguing philosophical points with lamp posts.
I’m not talking about chaining folks in the back wards of Bedlam; we can do better than that. But taking care of those who cannot care for themselves is what the Progs say they believe in [while forcing dependency on people who can take care of themselves]. Yet in this instance, they seem to take the most libertarian, lassez-faire of tacks crying “Freedom” and “Rights”. WTH is up with that?
Second try to post: Please reconsider your idea of putting “them” away. Following that idea you need to put someone in charge of deciding who goes. I am sure you understand the ramifications, this is a power that the worst dictator wishes to have. Right now the National Shrinks have decided homosexuality is normal and those who don’t think so are abnormal. These are the people who will claim the expertise for putting people away, along with getting Presidential Shooters a nearly free ride. And all combat veterans are suspects, there is no end.
Posted by on 01/09/11 at 08:24 PMI figgered the first thing to happen was that somebody’d figger out how we wuz to blame, and how JL is a victim of society and how “the debbil made him do it” and .....
I just never thought it would be the sheriff.
From what I hear, there was plenty of evidence to suggest that JL was a threat to most everybody.
Here’s how I’d sentence: Solitary confinement for life in some nice place like the Pelican Secure Housing Unit; daily beatings at 2am or 3am.
Posted by ZZMike on 01/11/11 at 04:35 PMGlad you kept trying, RightGunner.
I agree that “this is a power that the worst dictator wishes to have.” It’s a tricky and difficult question.
There are people wandering the streets—in great pain—unable to care for themselves and in danger. Some are dangerous to others.
There must be some discussion about how to identify them and give them some sort of place where they would be safe, not preyed upon, fed, warm, dry and helped, possibly by meds, or just a consistent and reliable environment.
We have managed to identify the severely developmentally disabled and care for them. The discussion following the Tucson incident ought not be about counting political coup by blaming “speech” but about how to help folks who are severely mentally ill. And protect innocent folks.
This is one of those questions that takes US back to our Values about Freedom, Individual Liberty and/as measured against the obligations of Society to protect/care for those who are unable to protect/care for themselves.
Yes. Tough questions.
Posted by Claire on 01/13/11 at 08:33 AMAccording to an interview with someone who knew him from school, JL did not listen to the radio, watch TV, or read newspapers. So the “right wing foments hate” argument goes up in flames.
I’d really like to know how he got that gun. Glocks start at about $600 - maybe a little less at local dealers.
And there was plenty of evidence that JL was rowing with only one oar.
RightGunner: “Please reconsider your idea of putting “them” away.”
That’s a good point - but we have to consider both sides.
In the old Soviet Union (and in China even now), people unappreciative of the glorious fatherland and its wise leaders were sent off to “re-education camps” in some Siberian vacationland. (The usual term was “enemy of the people”.)
At the other end, we regularly put away people who commit crimes, both violent and nonviolent. The thing is, it’s done within a judicial system one that almost always protects the innocent.
In cities, people shouldn’t have to live out of shopping carts and sleep under bridges. The question is, what can we do individually or societally about it? Many people live that way, “off the grid”, by choice.
Consider the Left’s latest find: Ted Williams, “the voice”. He’s just about used up his 15 minutes of fame:
Homeless man with golden voice briefly detained by police
Another problem is that so many people (mostly on the Left) think that Government is supposed to solve all our problems, therefore supporting charities is redundant and ineffective.
A wise Teacher once said, “The poor you will always have with you”.
Posted by ZZMike on 01/13/11 at 12:41 PM
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