The Toxity of Politics at Dangerous Levels

Courtesy of Gabrielle Giffords 

The current atmosphere of politics has become toxic; lethal even. Where and when it all began seems to be a hazy blur, but it would seem that the passage of health care reform has seen a dangerous rise in random acts of violence and ugly symbolism from both within the Washington establishment and beyond. Between January and March of 2010, members of Congress that voted in favor of the health care bill had reportedly seen 42 cases of violence or threats against them; in 2009, only 15 cases were reported within that same quarter.  Between 2000 and 2010 there had been 236 threats to lawmakers; in the beginning of 2010, that same number jumped, dramatically, 300 percent.

Last year, the ranting and protesting had only begun its horrific ascent. In March of 2010, while walking into the Capitol to cast their votes on the seemingly, ever-controversial health care bill, racial epithets were hurled at several members of the Congressional Black Caucus, while one member claims he was even spit upon. Barney Frank, an openly-gay member of the House of Representatives, was beleaguered with anti-gay chants during the Tea Party protest of the bill that same day. Other lawmakers, Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Rep. Paul Ryan were both threatened with assassination. Then-Senator Blanche Lincoln, for her vote in favor of health care, was told that her throat would be cut. And in an eerie foreshadowing of events, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, had also been a target of vandalism back in March 2010. More recently, a vandal painted swastikas on the office door of Sen. Kay Hagan in North Carolina.

Courtesy of Sarah Palin

Strange postings of a target with the cross hairs of gun sights (or as Sarah Palin now refers to it: bulls eyes) over the districts of about 20 different Congressmen/women that voted in favor of health care reform, were touted on the Facebook page of former Governor Sarah Palin, last year. One of those districts, was that of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Palin's staff member, Rebecca Mansour maintains that the target and cross hairs on Palin's page were not intended to incite violence and that the "target list" displayed on the site, was purely political. It's clear that imagery like this, in conjunction with weak economic conditions and an angry, fringe element of society, can be stirred up to make an already volatile mixture, perilous.

Extremist and far-right activist, Mike Vanderboegh, capitalized on the situation; only he never failed to mince words. Vanderboegh posted messages of retaliation to other extremists, against Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats, in protest of health care reform; he even went so far as to warn of an imminent civil war. "So, if you wish to send a message that Pelosi and her party cannot fail to hear, break their windows. Break them NOW. Break them and run to break again. Break them under cover of night. Break them in broad daylight. Break them and await arrest in willful, principled civil disobedience. Break them with rocks. Break them with slingshots. Break them with baseball bats. But BREAK THEM."

What's more frightening, is that it gets even more extreme than Vanderboegh. Who can forget the Hutaree? The so-called Christian militia group, was comprised of 8 family members and friends who planned to plot war against the U.S. back in March of last year. Hutaree members engaged in their own paramilitary training, by shooting guns and making homemade bombs. They had even plotted to set these bombs off at a police funeral. Authorities quickly moved to bring the group down because not only was it planning to carry out the attack against law enforcement officials, but it believed the group would become a catalyst of similar anti-government movements around the country.

Four days ago, a mysterious envelope that ignited at a D.C. post office, addressed to Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, held a message of angry words.  "Report suspicious activity...You have created a self-fulfilling prophecy." Officials believe the sender was referring to "flashing road signs posted on some Maryland roads". Luckily, the package never made it to its intended destination and no one was injured.


Courtesy of The Charlotte Observer  

Fast forward to last Saturday's horrific incident resulting in the deaths of six people, as well as serious injury to Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 13 others. The only thing that seemed to stop Jared Lee Loughner's senseless shooting spree that day, was that the Glock semiautomatic pistol he was touting, ran out of ammunition. By reports, Loughner was mentally ill and according to his postings on YouTube, he makes an argument on being called a terrorist and refers to, quite possibly, his, or someone else's, character being called into question. Loughner believes that the laws in place today are in direct violation of the Constitution. He had an obvious problem with illegal immigration and seemed to be preoccupied with words and their meaning and how he thinks they are used by the government to manipulate people. Loughner took serious issue with the state of our country like many others, but, tragically, chose to take the law into his own hands. The question now becomes: How do we rebuild and rebound from this unfortunate chain of events?



Let's start with a responsible debate. Right now, there seems to be a great deal of disillusionment with how many feel the government should work, as opposed to what it is actually out to accomplish; that it is bent on taking away the freedoms of Americans and dividing the classes, while pitting the classes against each other and controlling the people. Many Americans feel that there is no longer the same reverence for the U.S. Constitution. Some are disillusioned because they feel that our public leaders aren't listening; that promises that were made, were broken and that the Washington establishment vowed reform and hasn't delivered. Many feel that the wars we are fighting are unwinnable. Some people long for the America of long ago; they are nostalgic and unwilling to embrace change. Others see the need for change, but result to violence as a means of solving issues. Still, optimistically speaking, many realize that there is still hope for our country, and perhaps, that sentiment is just enough to help us move things forward.

One thing we must understand and consider, is that Change takes time; it takes courage and sacrifice, victories and challenges, voices and opinions-it takes you and me. Change is an uphill battle; it's not something achieved overnight, but it is something that can be measured over time. It matters how much we are ready and willing to embrace it-but it is also undeniable and inevitable. Change refuses to stay the same; there is no progress or growth without it. It's letting go of the old and ringing in the new. Change is upward-climbing, life-giving and purpose-driven. Change is a conversation, an acknowledgement, an admission.  Change has been here since the beginning and will be here until the end. Change has never exited, never said farewell and never left the building...no, Change is, unequivocally, here to stay.