Thoughts upon hearing of the shooting in Tucson -- January 8, 2011

The shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and many other innocent people in a Safeway parking lot in Tucson, Arizona on Saturday morning is yet another horrifying example of the terrible destructive violence possible when a person is armed and committed to causing harm including killing others.  While it goes without saying that the perpetrator should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, it is also a reminder that the tone of our public discourse must reflect a basic principle: democracy is a contest of ideas, and violence has no part in its practice.  We cannot use language in our debates that would leave any other impression.  January 8, 2011