Violence and Heated Rhetoric

Both the Progressives and Conservatives are making their points on the recent tragic shootings in Arizona. The Progressives see a clear tie between Conservative criticism of Progressives and believe that the shooting was influenced by the angry rhetoric.  The Conservatives see no such tie, and believe that the Progressives are shouting to damage Conservatives. Both sides believe their hands are clean and that the other side is the evil side guilty of lying and incitement to violence.


As a moderate, I see it this way.  Angry screaming accusations is disgusting and it could lead a deranged person to feel justified in taking violent action. Certainly terrorists are influenced by inflammatory rhetoric.


Let us simply agree to act and speak in a more nuanced civil tone.


Or else I will challenge you to a duel.  (Just kidding, a lame joke, I don't really want to fight a duel, I hope that no whack job reading this will be incited to violence, especially against me.)