Jim Geraghty echoes my thoughts:
You’ll notice I rarely write the gunman’s name. This is deliberate. I remember the Weekly Standard writing an editorial about the Columbine killers back in the 1990s, focusing on the abominable irony that we so often remember the names of the perpetrators of mass murder but rarely recall the names of the victims. At the end, I lamented that the editorial perpetuated the killers’ fame by naming them, only to reread it and find that the writer had artfully avoided mentioning either one. News coverage requires specific names, but afterward, when we digest and analyze, it is good to forget the names of evil men who killed in order to be remembered.
(You’ll notice that I have yet to use the shooter’s name in this blog.) I try to avoid using it in conversation as well and encourage you to do the same.
Let’s remember instead the names of the victims: Judge John Roll ,63; Dorthy Murray, 76; Dorwin Stoddard, 76; Christina Greene, 9; Phyllis Scheck, 79; and Gabriel Zimmerman, 30.
And the heroes: Colonel Bill Badger. Daniel Hernandez.
FROM THE COMMENTS: Reader Jesse reminds us of a heroine of the day:
You also forgot the Lady Hero (Patricia Maisch, a 61-year-old), who stopped him from Reloading, which would’ve caused even more victims during this Atrocity.
Christian Greene is the one I will remember most. I think that’s true for most people who are focusing on the story and not the shooter and his non-political agenda.
But good for you, Too often we often we raise the criminal to levels of fame they do not deserve. Let the memories of their actions live but let the name die.
Dorwan Stoddard was shot in the head lying atop his wife to protect her. Another hero among several that day.
Dan,
You also forgot the Lady Hero (Patricia Maisch, a 61-year-old), who stopped him from Reloading, which would’ve caused even more victims during this Atrocity.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12154398
Jesse, thanks for the alert, I’ll update the post.
Makes me wonder, isn’t an alert citizenry better protection than government in cases like this? (Especially given the utter incompetence of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which had many opportunities to restrain the shooter before the incident.)
Imagine if instead of an intrusive, humiliating, and ineffective TSA screening, terrorists were prevented from hijacking aircraft because they knew the flight crews or the passengers would beat the crap out of them like passengers did on that Southwest Flight a few years back.
I agree Bruce, and here’s who I’ll remember:
-Patricia Maisch (grabbed away the 2nd magazine preventing reload; though she later when interviewed, unfortunately, blamed the “right wing” rhetoric, I still admire her bravery)
-Roger Sulzgeberg (I’ve yet to see any pictures of this man who I believe is the other man who helped Col Badger)
-Joseph Zamudio (took over from Patricia in keeping the killer pinned to the ground; was lawfully armed too, but was too far away when the shooting started)
-Col Bill Badger (Was who grabbed the shooter’s left arm to drag him down, while Sulzgeberg did the right)
-Daniel Hernandez Jr (who rendered aid and protection directly to Rep Giffords immediately after she fell)
and of course Christina Taylor Green and Susan Hileman
Drs Rhee, Lemole and Freeze
I also wish the parents and university staff had instructed the college audience how to act at a memorial service. I also wish the university did not hand out t-shirts. I mean, t-shirts? Really?
I am deeply grateful for the actions of the heroes who rushed toward the danger to help and did not hesitate.
I agree. Mentioning his name only glorifies him.
He was mentally disturbed.
This is so tragic.
Human beings are capable of such greatness and such evil. It’s the greatness we should focus on. When will we ever learn?