Dubious Mission Orders

Quebec — Americans are in shock. Once again, the senseless act of a citizen without a known history of violence caused shock and dismay. Among his two dozen victims were a 9-year-old child and a judge, both killed instantly. The likely focus of his carnage, the Eighth District Democractic Representative from Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords, is currently fighting for her life in intensive care.

As with each of these killings, there are unanswered questions. Why is death sowed so blindly? What could have prevented this?

And in response, the same assumptions. Such as the alleged murderer, Jared Lee Loughner, being a sick man who misjudged his dangerousness and therefore didn’t receive the necessary care for his condition.

Our southern neighbors also have easier access to guns, where the right to own and bear arms is protected under the Second Amendment of the Constitution. And Americans are quick to exploit this, with 200 million guns in circulation for a population of 300 million.

Analysts have also noted that verbal violence is tolerated in public discourse, and since this time there is an election at the heart of the matter, one can easily recall the incendiary rhetoric fueling the partisan discourse between Republicans and Democrats.

To illustrate these abuses, the vast majority of commentators have pointed to the Facebook page of the tea party’s muse, the former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, who used rifle scopes to depict Democratic candidates that she said were a priority for her to get rid of during midterm elections.

“Don’t retreat! Instead — RELOAD!” she wrote, a war metaphor in poor taste.

Sarah Palin is obviously not responsible for the deaths of six of her compatriots and the serious injuries inflicted on the other victims. But she shares with all who abuse public discourse — there are Democrats and Republicans in the lot, as well as Quebecois of all beliefs for that matter — the responsibility for creating an unhealthy climate. An environment that may suggest to some deranged minds that they deserve to solve the “problem” — and thereby ease their worries — by interpreting the excessive partisan attacks as mission orders.

In fact, all those whose words are written or broadcast in any media or made available through technology should be guided by the precautionary principle. Unfortunately, some can interpret violent metaphors at face value.

Also, for reproof, it is wise for those who are able to do so to develop a strong case while avoiding shocking images that are open to ambiguous interpretation. In other cases, there is no choice but to denounce the excesses while protecting freedom of expression. Politicians and people will never look better.