What to do when tragedy strikes

Arizona is often seen as the desert wild west.  Most that visit the state I have called home since a child think of desert, cacti, summer heat, and most recently until yesterday, a place not welcoming to illegal immigrants.  But yesterday was different. Yesterday, a gunman decided to walk into a crowd in Tucson and use his own anger or disillusionment upon innocent people.  The crowd was gathered for "Congress on the Corner." Among those injured, and the target of the attack, was Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.  Shot in the head, an intern for her office held pressure on her head injury, remained with her while she was transported to the hospital, and maintained contact with her family.

While the final count of those hurt or killed is yet to be seen, there have been stories of those killed that tug greatly at my own heartstrings.  There was the couple, married for 50 years, who weren't intending upon going to the gathering, but in the end the wife, age 76, was shot.  He was a Marine pilot, turned commercial air pilot, referring to his wife as his girlfriend; together they raised 2 daughters.  There was another woman,  age 79, who's daughter living in Colorado heard of the news; concerns were raised when she was unable to reach her mother in Tucson only later to receive word her mother had been shot.  A retired construction worker, age 76, was attempting to shield his wife from being shot when he was fatally injured.  A Federal Court judge, age 63, who simply stopped by after mass to support his friend, the Congresswoman, was caught in the crossfire.  A staff person of Rep. Giffords, age 30, engaged to be married with a bright future, was killed.  And saddest for me as a mother, a 9 year old girl.

Over the past day we have learned more about these victims.  The girl, though, so young, is a very hard pill to swallow.  Born 9/11/2001 on a day our nation saw such tragedy she offered her family a glimmer of hope for the future.  The only girl on an all-boy little league team, she could play with the boys, but also had the heart of a girl with her love of ballet.  The interview seen on television of her parents struck me as one of the saddest events to ever listen to.  Her father described her as a girl who always had a smile on her face, with dreams of being a veterinarian.  Their daughter will never see the next little league game, grow into a young woman full of promise, and become a woman of great potential and worth.  She will always be a child in their hearts and minds.  A child who brought joy, love, and completeness to their home.

When a tragedy strikes such as this, you can't help but feel a sense of violation.  You may not have been there to witness the actual event, but thanks in part to the technology of our world today, we can be at the scene, witnessing the tragedy over and over.  I think back to the day that little girl was born.  I can remember where I was when I heard the news of tragedy coming from New York City.  I can remember the images being shown over and over again, and the great sense of depression I felt over the loss of so many people.  Regardless of their actual reasons for flying on the planes they were on, or for being at the Twin Towers, regardless of their positions of wealth or job title, regardless of their needs, feelings, desires, or accomplishments, in the end they were all just individuals attempting to live their lives.  They had bodies that would eventually grow old, minds that were able to judge right from wrong, family and friends that provided love and shelter from the outside world; they were just people.  Men and women just like those I love in my life.  All starting from the same place, and having their lives cut short by another's poor decision.  In touring Ground Zero on 9/11/2010 it was very difficult not to be moved by that moment our world changed forever.  In many respects, life as we knew it on 9/10/2001 will never be as we know it today in 2011 and beyond.

In the moments, days, weeks, and eventual years to come, I pray those touched by this tragedy are able to pick up the pieces, not forget, but able to move on.  I pray those who lost loved ones are able to remember the times of great happiness instead of this instant of terrible pain.  I pray anger does not settle into their hearts and they entrust the acts of the individual who caused their pain to the hands of the Lord.  I also realize that is easy for me to say, typing at my computer where the tragedy did not truly effect the lives of those I love.  But in the end, we are all just people, and in the end, these acts of anger cannot continue due to our continuing acts of hatred.  We do not have the ability to change the events that occurred, but we do have the ability to ensure our children do not create havoc as those in the past have.  The bright future the 9 yr. old would have had should not be marred by retribution but instead a continuance of everything she and the others killed yesterday brought to those that loved them best.