I haven’t seen any diaries about the people who were killed in Tucson. When I read about their varied backgrounds, ages, religious faiths, and political persuasions, I was moved to write something by which we might pause and remember to send thoughts, good wishes, prayers, and blessings to their families. I checked to see if there had been another diary about them but could not find one. If this is a duplicate, I’ll delete.
According to the Arizona Republic
Dorwan and Mavy Stoddard had known each other as children in the Tucson area. They moved away, married other people and had children. After both were widowed, they reunited in their hometown and married nearly 15 years ago. Dorwan, 76, a retired construction worker and gas station owner, was killed as the couple stood in line to meet Giffords, whom Mavy admired.
Snip
The Stoddards often befriended couples who sought assistance from the church, and delivered food and flowers to the sick. Dorwan was a familiar face at the church, as was his black dog, Tux. He spent hours fixing leaks and doing other maintenance jobs. Over the years, he had fallen through a roof and off a ladder but always laughed off his bruises and scrapes.
Snip
On Saturday morning, Mavy heard blasts that sounded like fireworks, and the couple dove toward some chairs as Dorwan tried to shield Mavy with his body, Nowak said. Mavy was struck at least once in each leg. "She didn't realize she'd been shot," Nowak said. "All she felt was his weight on her." "Before Dorwan died, Mavy told Jody, she was able to say goodbye to her husband.
Phyllis Schneck, 76 moved from New Jersey with her husband to escape the harsh East Coast winters. She was an expert quilter who "liked to pop by friends’ houses with her homemade lemon curd." Although Mrs. Schneck was a Republican, she admired Congresswoman Giffords and wanted to meet her. Mrs. Schneck was active in her Presbyterian church donating handmade aprons and needlepoint projects to food banks and children’s charities. Her husband Ernie, predeceased her but she lived for her three children, seven grandchildren and 2 year-old great-grandchild.
Dorothy Morris was 76 years old. She was married to her high school sweetheart, George, who was severely injured on Saturday but is expected to survive. She had two daughters. Mrs. Morris is described as "having opinions especially about politics but they were nothing too radical."
Gabriel Zimmerman was 30. He loved visiting the monuments in Washington DC when he went for President Obama’s Inauguration in January 2009. He was Congresswoman Gifford’s director of Constituent Outreach. He was engaged to be married in 2012 and had searched for the perfect engagement ring.
Christina Green was 9. Born on 9/11/2001, her parents describe her as a "gentle child."
Bill Badger, who subdued the gunman, said he noticed Christina before the carnage began. The third-grader was standing behind Giffords, getting ready to meet the politician. The little girl was beaming.
Snip
Her mother said Christina was patriotic and liked to wear red, white and blue. Like a lot of girls her age, she loved animals, and wanted to be a veterinarian. She was also a passionate dancer and the only girl on her baseball team.
Christina had just been elected to the student council at her elementary school and showed talent as a public speaker. A neighbor had invited her to meet Congresswoman Giffords on Saturday.
The Honorable John Roll, US District Judge was 63, Republican and Catholic.
He was a friend of Congresswoman Giffords, and had stopped at her event to say hello after attending mass at a nearby church. Judge Roll had himself been the target of right-wing extremists who were angered over a decision to permit a 32 million dollar suit brought by illegal immigrants to go forward in Federal Court. It seems that a Rancher detained immigrants at gunpoint when they crossed his property and turned them over to the US border patrol. For a time, Judge Roll and his family were under 24 hour protection. Judge Roll refused to dismiss the lawsuit paving the way for the immigrants to have their day in court. At the suggestion of U.S. Marshalls, Judge Roll decided not to press charges against the four men who were said to be the instigators of the death threats.
Judge Mary M. Schroeder of Phoenix, said Roll was "famous for being able to say so many genuinely nice things about people without having to consult notes, for he so genuinely loved people and had such a remarkable mind."
Fourteen other people were injured.
As I read through the brief biographies of the people who died, one thought occurred to me over and over. These people were ordinary Americans. Except for Judge Roll and Congresswoman Giffords, none were famous. They were just like our neighbors, people we see at church or in school or with whom we volunteer. They were loved by their families and friends. They were not participating in a national debate as pundits, ideologues or provocateurs. They were represented by Congresswoman Giffords who cared enough about their interests to come out and meet them and hear directly from them about their concerns. They cared enough about their community to meet their Congresswoman.
The people who fomented the climate of fear and hate in Arizona are not among the dead or injured. The authors of the Arizona Immigration legislation, the legislators who voted for it, the Governor who signed it and the radio pundits who promoted it were not physically present on Saturday morning in Tucson. The people who paid the ultimate price for the demagoguery, division and hate aroused by politicians who post target sites on Congressional Districts and clamor for 2nd Amendment remedies were just regular people of goodwill who wanted to see their Congresswoman.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Stoddard, Mrs. Schneck. Mrs. Morris, Sweet little Christina, Gabe, Judge Roll. I pray for your families, may they find strength to face the days ahead, encouragement from loved ones and friends and peace. I pray for those who were injured, Congresswoman Giffords, Mrs. Stoddard, Mr. Morris and those whose names have not been mentioned may they and their families find rest and healing and comfort and strength during this difficult time.
In Strength to Love published in 1963, Dr. King wrote:
Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate and violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. ...The chain reaction of evil, hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars—must be broken or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
His words are as relevant today as they were in 1963. Perhaps one place to start reducing the vitriol of the political rhetoric is with ourselves. Perhaps courtesy to our neighbors, our co-workers, people we meet in the grocery store or at ball games with the kids may go a long way toward changing the atmosphere of antagonism and division which besets us. grannyhelen wrote a diary today that was largely unnoticed. I recommend it to you now. Perhaps, we could reduce the fuel we pour on the flames in our flame wars. Perhaps we could listen to each other when we disagree. Perhaps we recognize that people on the other side of our debates are people of goodwill, who could be our neighbors, friends, co-workers, classmates and people we meet at our kids’ ball games.
The Washington Post has an photo gallery which demonstrates that Americans are not represented by the people highlighted on 24 hour cable news shows. We are not them and they are not us. Let us truly regain our country from those who would divide us.