Rhetoric

There has been much talk recently in the media and between politicians about rhetoric. There has been some pointing fingers, some denial, and just about everything that comes in between.

I feel this has been handled incorrectly. I don't care who it is, but someone, anyone, should come forward and admit that they have used inflammatory language. Doing so does not claim responsibility for the tragedy in Arizona, yet that seems to be how it is seen at the moment. There is no doubt that the language used in politics today is highly inflammatory and needs to be changed. Whether Sarah Palin is the first to acknowledge that she could have been more careful with her words and actions (which she won't be) or a liberal who doesn't even have a record of inflammatory rhetoric doesn't matter. Someone has to be first! Maybe then the others will follow suit.

The simple fact of the matter is that it doesn't take much to spark a flame on dry wood. In other words, it doesn't take much to make someone who is severely mentally unstable think that they're being told to do something that most people think to be unspeakable--especially if the one sending the message is a political figure.

The level of hatred being reflected back and forth from both parties is ridiculous. Personally, I don't want to see the 60s. I've read enough about it in history books and heard enough stories that I really don't want to live through it myself. We need to fix this before it becomes a severe issue. Six people have already died to open our eyes. Whether or not they were actually victims of the effects of inflammatory rhetoric is irrelevant.

Now is the opportunity to address the issue; now is the time to fix the issue.