Struggle for civility remains a year after Giffords shot

[ellisonz]

Written by
SHAUN MCKINNON
The Arizona Republic
12:17 AM, Jan. 9, 2012

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- The finger-pointing started before authorities had even confirmed that one of the victims of a shooting rampage near Tucson was Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

The gunman was clearly motivated by negative election rhetoric, the voices behind the fingers said. The political website with the crosshairs, the campaign event with guns. Nonsense, other voices insisted. The website, part of Sarah Palin's efforts to support candidates, was never intended to evoke violence. Shame on the Pima County sheriff, they said, for sullying a tragedy with his comments calling Arizona a "mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

As victims fought to survive, the finger-pointers just fought. When an emotional President Barack Obama, speaking at a memorial service at the University of Arizona, pleaded for "a more civil and honest public discourse," the airwaves and the Internet instead sputtered with bickering over the Native American speaker whose invocation at the memorial included references to his religious traditions and his family's Mexican heritage.

In the days after the shooting, the words from the memorial still fresh, lawmakers pledged to foster a new civility in tribute to Giffords and the others who were injured or killed. Yet one year later, Americans and their elected leaders still struggle to show each other respect when opinions differ.

http://www.jconline.com/article/20120109/NEWS02/201090316/1122

Have you tried to be more civil in your discussions since this tragedy?

[Skittles]

1. it's hard to be civil with ignorance that is harming America

I am serious - even 20 years ago I could have discussions with conservatives but no more - they are so fed to the gills with repuke propaganda it is simply impossible not to get frustrated and angry with them........so, I just try to avoid talking to them about politics

[ellisonz]

2. I'm not sure what would have to happen...

...to change that. They have a legitimate concern - there should be limits on government, but the way they express it is often hostile, rooted in bigotry, and morally wrong. I don't think that excuses unproductive incivility on our side of course.

[Raine]

3. The only way I can be civil to

them is to avoid them as much as possible. Sad that it's come to that but I don't trust them. They lie and anything goes with them so I just don't want to deal with them.