Tucson, a nation wounded.

I was speechless. My heart sank. Yet another act of violence. Lives unfulfilled. A childhood interrupted. Families destroyed. Loved ones gone. They all started the day with plans to attend the Giffords' rally or maybe they were just out grocery shopping, oblivious to the fact that a politician would be there for a community event. Does it matter? Should it matter? Each person was there minding their own business progressing through the day's tasks with plans later for dinner or other outings. Their day was interrupted by a lone gunman who decided his agenda trumped everyone else's. His needs were paramount. He would control their day, their lives, their future. So with a gun and ammunition he took matters into his own hands. He killed 6 innocent people and wounded many more. He wounded not only those who were there but those of us who watched on TV or listened to the radio or got information on various websites. As a nation we were all wounded, once again.

I don't know what provoked this assailant. There has been much speculation as to his motives, his mental health status, political beliefs, etc. I am sure in the days to come there will also be much blaming and finger pointing some perhaps warranted. But, what will it take for us as a nation and as individuals to turn the tide on our violent outbursts? When will each of us say enough? When will we stop glamorizing violence and making it the multi million, multi billion dollar industry that it is? Video games, movies, music, our culture is saturated with it. You can't even get in your car without the fear of someone perpetrating road rage.

Change has to start with each of us as individuals. Are we promoting violence directly, indirectly? Do we watch violent TV shows or allow our kids or grand kids to? Do we listen to radio shows that incite hate or disdain for those who don't believe what we believe or practice what we practice? What about our reading material? What does it sanction?

It seems that we have become such an impersonal society that to enact violence is okay as we just watch it on TV for the moment and then move on with our lives...until the next time. We don't know our neighbors anymore. We don't visit with them or sit out on the front porch and share our daily happenings, thoughts, joys or sorrows. We Facebook, text, email, Twitter or blog about events and people and thus keep everyone at electronic arms length.

To stop the violence I believe we must become acquainted once again. We have to step outside our front doors, talk to our neighbors, take them a casserole, monitor their children and ours. We need to learn how to communicate, have a healthy exchange of ideas, agree to disagree, love not hate, listen not shout, and to model all of that for our children.

After the shock has passed of this horror in Tucson, and for some it already has, we will either go back to our daily lives feeling hopeless about what to do, or we can each commit to doing something to make positive change. What will you do? Which path will you take?

We are a wounded nation. The events in Tucson added another bruise another injury to our collective being. But we can heal from this attack by demanding of ourselves and our leaders to promote healthy disagreement in place of hatred, bullying and outright promotion of violence. When you hear leaders in whatever setting name calling or dehumanizing others, step up, speak out and demand they stop. Free speech shouldn't cost someone else their life.

May Rep. Giffords and all the other Tucson victims return to full health and may there be peace for those who lost loved ones. May this nation take this opportunity to begin to engage in civility and decency even on things in which we don't agree.

Namaste,