On the recordJanuary 12, 2011
On Saturday morning in Tucson, it started out in a very good way. It started out with a number of people who wanted to engage in one of the great American traditions, a tradition of our government which is that we have a discussion of ideas. That is what America is about, a competition of ideas. And so we had Congresswoman Giffords and we had her staff and we had members of the community gather. That is a positive start to that day. Of course that positive start was destroyed by the tragic acts which have been recounted by so many on the floor. We all step back in shock and horror and sadness at what took place in Tucson. It is an attack on the individuals that clearly affects all of their lives. It is also an attack on what this country is about. It is important that as we hope and pray for the recovery of the victims, and we hope and pray for understanding for the families of the victims, and we mourn the loss of those who perished that day, it is important that we also recognize that they were great Americans who were there to exercise their right of assembly, and the great American tradition which represents what this government is all about, which is we can sit down and have discussions. We can disagree with each other. It is okay to disagree with each other. That is the strength of this country. That is the idea behind America, that we have the opportunity to look for the best ideas from wherever they come.
