Tucson and History

On Saturday, January 8, an act of violence in the city of Tucson, Arizona, shocked this nation once again. A crazed gunman stalked a member of the US House of Representatives Gabriel Giffords and shot her while she was sponsoring a rally for constituents there in Tucson. Although she is likely to survive her horrible wounds, six others, including a nine-year old girl were killed before the gunman was apprehended.

The scenes from Tucson brought back memories of those on the campuses of Virginia Tech University and of Columbine High School, and, yes, from Oklahoma City and the World Trade Center Towers in New York. Although it seems that such scenes are becoming increasingly more frequent, I trust that we will not become numb to them.

Immediately after the reports of the gunshots in Tucson hit the airwaves, the blame game began. The central person upon whom blame was cast was Sarah Pallin, Alaska's former governor and the Vice Presidential candidate of John McCain. Questions were raised about the increase in the incendiary rhetoric in today's political realm. Is the tone of rhetoric increased today compared to previous generations?

As some of you know, I enjoy reading the history of our great nation. The period of the American Civil War is my favorite, but I have been reading about those days of the founding of our great nation. Let me ask you: According to many historians, what national election brought about the greatest animosity and vitriol from the contestants? Think about that for a moment. Some of you might say that the past election was certainly not a stroll among gentlemen. Neither, for that matter, were the two campaigns of George W. Bush. The 1860 campaign between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas was fiercely contested. Yet, the most heated campaign was that of 1800 between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. It was the first election between two political parties. Oh the language that was used by both sides. Oh the attacks made. A friendship was torn asunder that would take two decades to heal. (Interestingly and ironically, both Adams and Jefferson died on the same day - July 4, 1826,)

Heated rhetoric has been part of the history of the American Congress. On May 22, 1856, during the intense days of pro- and anti-slavery debate, South Carolina Congressman Preston Brooks attacked Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner while the later was writing at his desk. Brooks hit Sumner with a cane so intensely that the later was severely injured, resulting in a three-year rehabilitation before he could resume his senate seat.

Let's not blame rhetoric for this vicious attack. Instead, let us look at the philosophy that this young man - Jared Loughner - had begun to believe. His two favorite books were the Communist Manifesto and Mein Kampf, not exactly books that inspire acceptance of democratic ideals. I believe that one motive for the attack is that Representative Giffords was Jewish. We know that both Karl Marx and Adolph Hitler despised and even hated Jews.

How will our lives be impacted because of Tucson? Because of 9-11 we now must proceed through long lines of security before we can board an airplane. Because of the Oklahoma City bombing, we must go through screenings before entering into a federal building. Will we now have to go through security screenings before we can meet with our Congressmen or those who represent us?

The Bible tells us that in the last days, lawlessness will increase. Sure doesn't create a very exciting view of our world, does it? Yet our hope still remains in God! Yes, the Righteous One is coming.