I was pretty busy this past Saturday morning, running around and accomplishing several errands. I was even begin to prepare a blog about the whole Southwest Airlines customer service mistake (I’ll write about that later this week), but then I turned on facebook and started to read news reports about a horrible tragedy that took place down in Tucson this past weekend. It stopped me immediately. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Not here. Not so close. Living in Arizona, I have several friends that personally knew some of the victims. It continues to take up several spots on my facebook newsfeed.
The whole incident saddens me. My heart breaks at each of the victim’s stories, especially young Christina Taylor Green, born on September 11, 2001. She had just been elected to her school student council and was invited to the event by a neighbor. Her life was far too brief. We can only imagine what else she would have shared with the world.
As we now try to understand the exactly what happened, news reports are beginning to shift. Some pundits are back to blaming the other side, or laws, or media, or lack of security, or some other thing to fill up our news cycle.
But then there are the other stories… of heroism.
This morning my friend, Josh, posted a link to an article highlighting the bravery of several individuals in and around that Safeway who acted quickly, risking their own lives, and undoubtedly saving the lives of man others. Josh wondered if he would have the capacity to do the same. I wonder as well. How would I deal with dueling aspects (self-preservation/safety and compassion for my fellow man) of my being in such a moment?
As I thought about it, I couldn’t help but think of one of my favorite scenes from THE WEST WING. The episode “20 Hours in America” aired a year after the attacks of September 11th. A smaller act of terror takes place within the episode and President Bartlett (played by Martin Sheen) delivers these remarks. They brought me some comfort today. May they do the same for you.