As the news stories are coming in about the shootings in Arizona, I feel rather shaken about this latest round of violence, violence that seems eerily related to the violent, hate-filled rhetoric that people on the Wrong have been spewing. Although we don’t know if the gunman has any links to Palin, the connection is troublesome to say the least. We’re likely to hear that he was a lone wolf, disturbed, and definitely not politically motivated, or if he was, he was completely out of line with what the folks on the Wrong are advocating. They surely should not be held accountable. That will be the story. Because facing that there might be a connection between violent rhetoric and violent action would be too hard to swallow. It is dismissed in the case of abortion, despite well-researched evidence to the contrary. And I can’t help thinking that this non-accountability for the consequences of actions is what is behind the much decried – by the same Wrong – decline of our moral compass. That decline has nothing to do with single mothers or gay marriage. It has everything to do with being able to bring the world economy to the brink of collapse and walking away with billions. It has everything to do with enticing violence but not being held accountable for it.

Added January 9: The first petition i’ve come across asking Sarah Palin to stop using “shooting images” in her rhetoric is up at Credo Action. When i signed it, they had already adjusted their signature goal, which seems to indicate the level of outrage and the making of connections (contrary, fortunately, to my expectations…). And you can ask Congress and the news media with another petition to put “an end to all overt and implied appeals to violence in American politics. We must debate, not hate.”

Added January 10: A virtual candle light vigil is going on here. For some reason, i find this particularly moving – maybe because it’s such a powerful reminder of the senselessness of violence…