Following the tragic shooting spree in Tuscon, Arizona this weekend, Sarah Palin has been the recipient of plenty of well-deserved criticism. Jared Loughner, 22, was the gunman responsible for the deaths of six innocent victims and the injuries of thirteen others, including Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. While no excuses can be made for Loughner’s horrendous actions, it’s important to take a look at factors that may have contributed to this catastrophe.
It’s hard to ignore the obvious message conveyed by Sarah Palin and her political action committee, SarahPac. They published a map of the United States, with crosshairs marking the locations of twenty congressional districts that they would be targeting in their campaign. Under this map, they listed the names and respective states of these districts’ representatives; Gabrielle Giffords was one of them. This map was posted on Palin’s Facebook page. In addition to the obvious implication of crosshair targets, Palin’s phrase, “Don’t retreat. Reload!” is an expression of violence. While I don’t believe that she actually wishes death on her opponents, I do believe that her aggressive messages, some subtle and some not-so-subtle, are incredibly inappropriate for someone with her influence.
I respectfully request that she remember that her career puts her in the public eye at all times, and there are impressionable individuals who may interpret her statements in a way that she didn’t intend. While we are each responsible for our own actions, political figures - who derive their power, career, etc. from the people – owe it to the people that they exercise caution and good judgment when publicizing any message.
By Robyn Goldberg & Mark Dworkin LCSW
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