Kentucky League of Women Voters

League of Women Voters of Kentucky Winter 2011 e-Voter
Presidents’ message,
Dear fellow League members,
Like you, we were saddened by the events that happened in Tucson last week. We looked to our National President, Elisabeth MacNamara, to express how we all feel. We quote here her message to all of us, “The League of Women Voters joins with all Americans in expressing our shock and dismay at the tragic shootings in Tucson last weekend. We express our deep sorrow to the families of the victims, and offer our sincere hopes for the recovery of Representative Giffords and the other survivors. We applaud the courage of the individuals, thinking they were just out for a Saturday conversation, who took immediate action to help the injured and end the rampage.

“What can we make of this madness, this senseless act of violence? And terrible though this event was for all of us now, what might the long term effects be? Will it make public figures – politicians, media figures, celebrities – more mindful of the potentially harmful impact of their angry words – or will everyone continue to put their own agendas first, without regard to the climate they create? Will it make the public more trusting of the patriotic motivations of their elected leaders – or will respect for them be further diminished? Will it make our elected leaders more willing to reach out to meet and hear from their constituents directly – or will it reinforce the growing gap between voters and those they put in office? Will it allow Americans to feel comfortable and welcome in the public space – or will they conclude that it is safer to stay home and drop out of the conversation? It is clearly time for each of us to consider these issues, individually and as a community.

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