Franky Benítez

(Credit: Reuters/Rick Wilking)

Dear America:

We need to pause. We need to pause right now.

We need to stop pointing to maps with targets and blogs that say “she is DEAD to me.” We need to stop tweeting, posting, commenting, and sharing our thoughts about what side of the political spectrum is to blame.

We need to share more about the events that have transpired and about the people who died from the gun of a murderer. The time to reflect on the issues is for later. Right now, Tucson mourns and so do you, America.

What has happened to you? Close to 10 years ago, we were united in our greatest tragedy. We looked into each other’s eyes and we cried together. We embraced. We vowed to vaporize the evil that was destroying us. We were one, America. Then things deteriorated. The highest office in your land, America, became fodder for hate. Not once, but twice. The cycle of rhetoric and ratings continued, from both sides of the extreme. And the middle stayed quiet. Until now.

America, you are a crumbling nation that is quick to point fingers and scream with extremes just to prove a point while a little girl is buried, others die, and a public servant clings for her life. So to the following Americans listed below, we say, please pause this, please stop shouting your message and posting your thoughts in the interest of “news.” Unless you have actual facts about this tragedy, we ask you to pause for now. This story is not about you and it never will be. The issues that trouble this story (political extremism, immigration, mental illness, isolation, freedom of speech, violence, guns) will still be with us. Let’s pause and mourn. Dedicate yourselves to that and not comments like these:

Keith Olbermann

Rush Limbaugh

Let’s say that the dead individual happened to be a Democrat Judge, and the wounded individual is a Republican Member of Congress. Who do you think the media would be focused on in that incident?  It’s a rhetorical question, but we have the answer to it.

Glenn Beck

I have so desperately this weekend looked for a leader, looked for someone with common sense, looked for someone who would tell the truth. Instead I find a sheriff who has no facts and blames it on talk radio. Instead I find, I believe it was Time magazine that said, if I may quote: ‘We have none of the facts yet, but who would be surprised if this was a Glenn Beck fan.’ I’ve looked for anyone that would not play politics with it.

 

Markos Moulitsas

 

These are just a few of your more influential Americans adding fuel to the fire online. They place politics over tragedy, rhetoric over reason. They rile up their fans, who then go looking for others to criticize, insult and hurt, all in the name of freedom.

Turn the noise off, America. Filter your streams. Share the stories of heroes and victims. We have faith in you.

The culture of the shouting ego is over.