Please Watch What You Say.

What a terrible thing this shooting of Rep Giffords  in Arizona on Saturday. I keep hearing that it was not likely motivated by politics. Sorry. I don't believe that. Let me ask you this; when politicians or radio talk-show hosts or TV commentators use language that sounds like they're inciting violence and then say "I'm not suggesting violence", do you believe them? I mean really. If you have to preface your comments with the statement that you're not recommending violence, you most certainly are. There's a lot of politicians and media and talk show hosts who are making a very nice living, thank you very much, on living close to the line. These folks are very careful not to step over the line. They don't want to go to jail or lose a court case because they crossed that line, so they get as close as possible without crossing. Then sometimes they use that "I'm not advocating violence" quotation just to cover their behinds. Are you really fooled by this kind of act? I'm convinced these folks know very well that there are people out there who are just unstable enough to take these comments as direction to act. What we need is not a whole new set of laws so much as a better understanding of how dangerous some of these favorite words and phrases really are. When a politician says it's time to take so-and-so out, or puts crosshairs on them, or any such word or action, they endanger that person's life. If that's their intent then maybe they don't deserve to be elected to any position of responsibility. Even dog catcher or sewer plant guard. Maybe cellblock inmate rep would be OK. Same for radio and TV talk-show hosts. Maybe they should be doing the morning news in the Arctic in the winter when there's no sunrise for several months at a time. Well anyway, my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones on Saturday and my prayers to those we all hope will recover quickly. My respect will be withheld from those who use this ratcheted up rhetoric, mostly for personal gain.