Truth, justice and the American way:

Thursday – January 13, 2011

Truth, Justice and the American way:

This week, we all have been exploring the truth behind the shootings in Arizona. We all have branded our own version of what swift justice should be and what justice can bring. But what we have forgotten is the American way of doing things.

In times of turmoil, stress and the robbing of our national innocence through acts of violence we strive to make sense of the senseless. Sometimes it is impossible to make sense of violence and sometimes we can. The question is should we?

Part of making sense and coming to terms with violence is to talk about it. We have instant access to counseling when things happen. We have instant access to the news cycle. We have instant access to just about everything including putting our grief on display.

I think we have all been appalled over the behavior of some who have tried to profit politically over a sheer act of murder. Those who have been a part to this are now asking why some members of the right are being so defensive. Yesterday, Sarah Palin released a seven minute video explaining why she wasn’t responsible for murder, because of rhetoric and symbols on a map. Rush Limbaugh has spent the whole week doing the same. He, however, offered the proof as to who was lying and who wanted to profit politically over the murders in Arizona. This should be enough. but for some it isn’t. Sarah Palin is now being criticized for the use of the term blood libel. Even Alan Dershowitz, the liberal icon, constitutional attorney, came to her defense and said this should not be taken out of context. She said nothing wrong.

The left will not stop in their pursuit to get people like Sarah and Rush off the airways and out of the public spotlight. I find it interesting when a horrific national calamity occurs, these people are not in the limelight and they prefer to take the back seat. However, when stones are thrown and words are spoken even these people must come out to tell the truth. At every turn in this story the evidence has been supported and the evidence has been analyzed. There was one outcome the shooter acted on his own, a sick way of expressing his inner being.
The shooter’s friend, Zach Osler, said on Good Morning America: "He (the shooter) did not watch TV, he disliked the news," Zach Osler said. "He didn't listen to political radio, he didn't take sides, he wasn't on the left, he wasn't on the right." Osler said that Loughner was angry at the world. "He wasn't shooting people, he was shooting at the world," the friend said.
This should be proof positive that the left has been out of line and have tried to profit over murder and grief to score political points among their base.
It is a sad day in America when events occur that take the brilliant beam of life that has been given to us by a higher source. It is sad day in America when our leaders take to the pulpit and fling the accusations that they have. This is not truth, justice and the American way. But, then again, the last few years has been anything but that.

Making sense of the senseless should not remake a president. Many put political stock into what the President said last night. We will see if he profits over this tragedy. He alone should not profit. The nation should profit. This will be the win for America. The term tragedy is what has been lost in the dialog across America, not the cheers that the president wanted. The President spoke about loss and the news cycle, he spoke of love and he spoke about civility in our discourse. He spoke about this making the victims proud. I can’t disagree except to say questioning idea’s is one thing but putting the blame on others that had no part in the tragedy is another thing. Stop that and the nation will heal and it will win.

America cannot make sense of the senseless, until it begins to win. America has to heal so it can win. When we are divided by those who don’t want America to win then senseless acts will occur. The shooter was angry at the world. Those who divided and pitted some against others to score political points don’t want the healing to begin either.

However, those who were injured in this tragedy will heal and they will be the inspiration for those who want to win. Words cannot do the job until the body is ready to heal. The body of our nation must heal so the nation can win.

Truth, justice and the American way is a formula to start with. The rest is up to us. I know I am ready to win are you?

The Act of January 13, 1794 - provided for 15 stripes and 15 stars to be added to the nation’s flag. In 1795, the two stars were added, representing Kentucky and Vermont, bringing the total number of stars to 15. Two stripes were added to make a total of 15 stripes. This was the only U.S. flag to have fifteen stripes. In 1818, Congress proclaimed that one star for each new state would be added on the 4th of July following the state's admission to the union and there would be thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies. The 15 star flag flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 and inspired the writing of the National Anthem, The Star Spangled Banner.

This might be a simplistic view on where to start the healing. It might be nothing more than a symbol. But it is the flag that we all love and that we all rally around in times of morning and despair. The victims of the events in Arizona we’re attending a rally for what the flag means. It is the union of free people and ideas that make us whole. We should give tribute to the banner in honor of the victims.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: To heal we must believe and to believe we must be free, this truly is truth, justice and the American way.