Tucson

How do we begin to understand the tragedy in Tucson? Some will find solace in irrational anger at another's political beliefs or social mores and ideologies. Others will blame Arizona's permissive gun laws or the parents or the schools for not being attentive enough to catch potentially destructive behavior.

Still others will seek shelter in the fort of fear and demand protection from the misfits, the crazies and the misled of the world by hiding behind barriers, locked doors, new laws and bodyguards. We all know that will not work. If someone cares not for his or her own life then harming another is easy.

So what do we do? It starts with the collective belief that we can do something positive and constructive.

We need to teach our young and ourselves that there are better weapons than guns. We need to acknowledge the emotions of those who feel disenfranchised and show them that words of persuasive discourse are far more powerful weapons than bullets or bombs. We need to be the evidence of compromise and compassion and eliminate the cantankerous outrage in our media outlets and in our religious and bully pulpits. Violence against a person for their political or religious beliefs stifles the dialogue of compromise and the attainment of personal and global peace.

What I'm suggesting is not easy, but it is not impossible.

It starts with compassion and the sharing of abundance. It starts by the genuine listening to the concerns of others. It starts by lessening the rhetoric of passionate certainties. It starts by my beloved, but disappointing media reporting only the facts and not expressing opinion or conjecture or untruths because it gets ratings. It starts by turning off the television when these pundits pander to the baser needs of our voyeurism.

Even the sheriff of Pima County had harsh words for Rush Limbaugh.

"The kind of rhetoric that flows from people like Rush Limbaugh, in my judgment he is irresponsible, uses partial information, sometimes wrong information," Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said today. "[Limbaugh] attacks people, angers them against government, angers them against elected officials and that kind of behavior in my opinion is not without consequences."

Contributing to our problem is that we are a lazy lot. Misinformation comes rapidly and once it's said enough times by enough people we believe it as the truth. Just look at the rumors, the innuendo, and the slander circulated by emails on a daily basis.

I believe there is another factor missing from our global conscience. It is the quality of unconditional love and the comfort it engenders.

It is a truth that you cannot feel good while hating another.

If governments spent as much time and money on explaining and promoting the facets and value of loving one's neighbor as they do on weapons and promulgating fear we would have a positive paradigm shift in consciousness.

Religions give it a go upon occasion, but they let it pass when influence, territory or dogma is in question. Unconditional love also needs to be part of our national moral and ethical fabric as well.

If we can start this then maybe the murders and pain in Tucson will not be in vain and just another senseless tragedy. I am only one voice in the blogging neighborhood. It seems to me we have tried so much else then why not unconditional love. We have to start somewhere. It might work.