healing

Tucson Arizona-
It's a beautiful day here today- blue skies and sunshine- and a peaceful sensation of hope and healing.
Last night, I walked to University Medical Center- less than a mile from my home- to visit the memorial shrine and to pray with my fellow Tucsonans for the healing of the victims and their families.

The president arrives in Tucson in about an hour - to attend a memorial service for the victims and to offer words and leadership to begin the path to healing and recovery. I pray that his words are heard by Gabrielle, and that they give her strength in her road to recovery.

*paz*-M

and another thing

As I continue to process all that has transpired here in Tucson, I search for reason and solutions.

It's plain to see that the young man who "allegedly" went on this rampage has a deeply troubled mind- and that his actions in the previous years have been clear indications of someone who needed mental health support.

My heart goes out to all who have been touched by this tragedy- I personally know more than one of the wounded. Fine people, going about their business, in their attempt to make this world a better place. In the coming days the shock of the events in Tucson will slowly diminish- and we will continue our lives as before-

However- My hope is that during the healing process we can also see and acknowledge that our services for the mentally ill are inexcusably underfunded - and that in the healing period that follows our priorities for funding are re-examined- with a concentration on helping our troubled citizens find the wellspring of healing that they -(and we as human beings and as participants in modern society)- so desperately need.

M

my thoughts on senseless acts of violence

I'm home again in Tucson- just getting our feet under us, we hear of our friend and congresswoman being shot by a confused and twisted youth.

I mostly blame TV- and it's power to influence minds in a hypnotic manner. What we have now (on Fox) amount to hatred pep talks- speeches and propaganda that twist facts and incite hatred and violence.
There is an amount of responsibility on cable news media that has been whittled away, using the first amendment not as a support of freedom, but a weapon of freedom.
 It is a sticks and stones mentality that needs to be re-thought. Names DO hurt people- we as a country (and the world) need to create a more respectful dialogue within our disagreements, otherwise senseless acts of violence will continue, with ugly words and ideas being the root cause.
As my son's Kung Fu teacher says at the end of every class- "Use words to uplift and create, not to destruct and put down"
-peace-M