TARGETING HYPOCRISY
(In regards to Tyler Jones’ Jan. 26 column, “Talk with restraint.”)
I took extreme offense to Mr. Jones' article. He said that Palin was blamed for the assassination of Rep. Giffords because she was "such an easy target." Can you believe that he would even say that?
The word "target," even according to him, should be an off-limits word. He basically ordered an assassination on her!
He also said we should "hold our elected officials accountable." Oh my gosh! Did he just secretly tell people to take violent action against them?
According to Mr. Jones, the fringe elements of our society can take that out of context and do something as drastic as Loughner. Jones offers no new talking points and even follows the leftist liberal handbook: blame Palin, Beck, and don't mention any offensive liberal rhetoric — like Obama saying he's going to "punish" his enemies.
As you can see, by taking words and phrases out of context, I just made Jones guilty of what he has just preached against: "offensive" language that can be twisted by the so-called "fringe elements" and used for the justification of evil acts.
The political rhetoric in the country has always been fiery. So? It was far worse in the Founder's days; if anything, it is the dullest now.
There is not a shred of evidence proving Loughner's crime was a product of the "vitriol" in the political sphere. And if it was, then we hold him, the individual, responsible. Not Beck, Palin, or Obama.
Robert Celaya Undergraduate Student
