Jeff's Commentary - 1/11 - The Empty Chairs

I was angry on Monday as the Tucson gunman, Jared Loughner smirked as he was being booked in a Phoenix courthouse. So devoid of any human feelings, this individual does not deserve the 15 minutes of fame he has framed. An animal. I do believe there is a place in hell for this young man.

The shooting in Tucson which included Gabrielle Giffords impacted so many families. As a father of five children, there was nothing more heartbreaking than to read about the death of the innocent girl over the weekend. Christina Taylor-Green was nine years old. A third grader at Mesa Verde Elementary School whose desk and chair will now be empty for an eternity. How sad. How tragic.

I think of future Christmas' little Christina will not have. The birthday parties with family that will now be empty dates. The graduations that will never happen. The family she will never have. Why?

I teared up as I read that her mind was already focused on her career, where she aspired to be involved in helping those less fortunate than herself.

Dorothy Morris (76) and Phyllis Schneck (79) were mothers, wives and people who brought great happiness to their families. They are now gone. Their chairs will be hard to fill.

Dorwin Stoddard (76) was still the protector. When the shooting started, he covered his wife who was also hit and took the impact of more bullets which killed him. What valor.

And Gabe Zimmerman, who at 30 had so many chairs to fill in his life. He was a Director of Community Outreach for Congresswoman Giffords and now lives in a community he will no longer touch.

So we have to come together and learn from all the empty chairs. How do we treat people? How do we stop the violence? How do we temper the tone in America?
How to treat one another with respect among disagreement?

I believe in the hereafter. My opinion. My beliefs. I believe that little Christina is beginning her new career now to help others less fortunate than herself. She’s doing it in a different dimension. That new chair is now hers and is no longer empty.

Jeff