The alleged assassination attempt of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D) Tucson, AZ on Saturday, 8 January 2011 by Jared L. Loughner, which left six other people, including a 9-year old girl, dead and three others wounded, including Giffords, leaves our nation in mourning over the tragic and probably preventable loss of life.
A mourner at a Tucson synagogue, where Rep Giffords attended, cried, “Why, why, why, why…?” I suspect that is the question we want to try to answer most desperately. As humans we want make sense of this seemingly senseless act.
Perhaps the first thing we can do is to remind ourselves that we live in a misshapen world, a world that has been misshapen by sin. I know that sounds like an easy answer, but it is fundamental to answering the basic question, “Why?” Augustine reminds us that sin springs from two sources, our own thoughts and the persuasion of others. (Free Choice of the Will) Perhaps further investigations will reveal the source of Loughner’s horrible actions.
Meanwhile, we can offer prayers for the victims and their families of this horrific event.
