Giffords's synagogue holds vigil; tributes unfold online
Virtual tributes unfold on Twitter (Update: 1:5 p.m.)
A kind of virtual vigil has appeared on Twitter, led by users asking people to follow Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' Twitter account in a show of respect for the wounded Congresswoman.
Giffords' account grew by roughly 3,000 followers Sunday morning, according to a cached version of her page.
Now following @Rep_Giffords as a small gesture of solidarity and great respect. I ask all of you to do the same. #follow@Rep_Giffords
Leo Thomas McGarry
McGarrysGhost
Others worked to mobilize celebrities and political pundits on Twitter, asking for displays of bipartisan support in wake of the shooting.
@KeithOlbermann As bipartisan support for her recovery, not for political reasons, may I humbly suggest people follow @Rep_Giffords?
Dave Hogg
Stareagle
Will you be attending a vigil for Rep. Giffords?
@postpolitics Send us details of vigils in your area (place, time and link with hashtags #Giffords #vigil) or send us photos, and we'll round them up here.
Giffords's synagogue holds vigil
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords's (D-Ariz.) synagogue has scheduled a vigil at 9 a.m. local time. Giffords belongs to the reform synagogue Congregation Chaverim.
Giffords, Arizona's first Jewish congresswoman, had her wedding to Navy captain and astronaut Mark Kelly officiated by Rabbi Stephanie Aaron in 2007.
A vigil was held Saturday night on Capitol Hill for Giffords and the victims of the Tucson shooting, which left Giffords critically injured, and a nine year-old girl and federal judge John Roll among those dead.
Local news accounts list a number of vigils that will be held throughout the day Sunday in Arizona.
By
Emi Kolawole and James Buck
| January 9, 2011; 10:15 AM ET
Categories:
44 The Obama Presidency
Save & Share:
Previous: Sheriff Dupnik's criticism of political 'vitriol' resonates with public
Next: Durbin, Alexander comment on Tucson shooting
Which forces the broader question, despite one’ s political leanings, are we now to be wary of those individuals who differ with a point of view to the point of violence? If history is a guide- it seems yes ( from the civil war in the 1860′s, the assassinations of various US presidents, the violent usurping of student protests in the 60 and 70′s fighting for civil rights and our pull out from Vietnam). As much as we prefer open discussion and gentleman discussions on night time TV that (cynically) entertains us and relieves us personally of having to force change in society it has often come down in history to violent confrontations, the pitting of entrenched interests and those who seek justice.
Although Jared Lee Loughton was seeking justice in his own eyes, he has only ended up committing violent and reprehensible damage, one has to wonder – has American politics now come down to physical confrontations, the actions of a supposed single ‘mad man’ in this instance or the logical extension of polemical politics in America laden with distrust, unease, smear campaigns, acts of vandalism or perhaps anti government rhetoric that have gone from your Bill O Reilly TV room to your bloody Arizonian Saturday morning shopping mall?
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2011/01/the-violent-arrival-of-polemic-politics-arizona-and-beyond/
Posted by: zoezoe123 | January 9, 2011 1:37 PM | Report abuse
We encourage users to analyze, comment on and even challenge washingtonpost.com's articles, blogs, reviews and multimedia features.
User reviews and comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions.