An unspeakable tragedy unfolded Saturday when a lone gunman fired point-blank on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Democrat of Arizona, killed six people—among them a 9-year-old girl—and left over a dozen wounded. As our nation mourns, we must ask ourselves what people at foundations and nonprofits can do to prevent such senseless acts of violence in the future.
Hateful speech spawns hateful actions. In America today, people with significant influence such as public officials, talk-show hosts, and political-party leaders routinely castigate those who do not share their views.
The result of such biting words of ridicule and rage is a game that no one wins—least of all us, the citizenry. Even as there have been modest gestures of compromise in Washington since the midterm elections, the echo chambers of political leaders reverberate today louder than ever urging lawmakers not to compromise but instead to gut the positions of their opponents.
Our public leaders and leading media personalities set the tone for the public square. It is their duty to promote civil discourse and encourage peaceful participation in society. In the wake of this tragedy, we must demand nothing less.
People in the nonprofit world-as trusted members of communities everywhere-are in a powerful position to set the parameters for a decent society. We can use the power of our collective voice in many ways. We also can:
- Organize and finance educational programs in schools that teach tolerance and respect for others; then we can help institutionalize such programs into school curriculums at every level.
- Encourage faith-based and secular organizations to hold joint forums promoting civil dialogue; grant makers might reward this type of collaboration and encourage the most effective programs with additional resources.
- Reach out to colleagues in the mental-health field and join them in calling for public-policy changes that will promote early detection of mental illness and better access to health care.
- Speak out against those who promote hate and violence in the blogosphere and offer people what they are yearning for: rational discourse that solves, rather than promotes, the problems they face every day in their lives.
Some argue that words don’t kill people, actions do. But toxic words poison the climate in which disturbed people may feel empowered—indeed compelled—to act. But without instruments of death, like the semiautomatic weapon used just days ago, their actions would be checked—or at least the carnage would be less terrible.
We may never stop a lone disturbed actor, but there is plenty we can do to reduce the chance of another mass shooting. People in the nonprofit world will come out on either side of this debate, but without interfering with the First and Second Amendments, we ought to be thinking about what is best for society and what is likely to do the most good.
We can and will come through the unspeakable calamity that rocked not only Arizona but also our nation. We also have a precious chance, as a community, to shape something better out of this terrible time by sharing a broader vision that brings people together for the common good. Add your voice to the healing process: Call for peace and civility among all people.
Diana Aviv is chief executive of Independent Sector, a Washington coalition of foundations and charities.
Comments
1. elizabethmcbi - January 11, 2011 at 12:19 pm
I've worked in this sector my whole career, and as much as I love what we, collectively, do for our communities and our world, why must the heavy lifting always fall to us?
2. publicallies1 - January 11, 2011 at 12:24 pm
I'm glad Diana has spoken out on this. Good piece.
3. timmarge2 - January 11, 2011 at 12:29 pm
There has not been a shred of evidence surfaced to suggest that the shooter was influenced by political hate speech. This is an assumption that has been spawned by media. While hate speech is rampant, too many people are using this tragedy as a reason to take to their soap boxes. The shooter was deeply disturbed, and until we hear mitigating information it's hard for me to be compelled here.
In any case, asking non-profits to take a reforming role in the free-speech arena is hard for me to grasp. There are as many media outlets that bring reasonable discourse as there are incendiary ones. Our focus should continue to be focused on bringing aid to those who clearly need help...just like this shooter and the many victims.
4. bec2010 - January 11, 2011 at 12:36 pm
For you to use this tragic incident as a opportunity to support your politics and attack the right is shameful. There has been no evidence whatsoever that this was a politically motivated killing. The killer was a very mentally unstable and ill person. Shame on you.
5. robc9319 - January 11, 2011 at 12:37 pm
I am trying hard to find a polite way to put this. The children's story of "The Emperor Who Had No Clothes" comes to mind. Why do we sell semi-automatic weapons over the counter in our country? Why do we sell them at all? We can "shape broad visions" and engage in "rational discourse" until we're blue in the face, but until we stop selling guns in our country, this kind of senseless tragedy will repeat itself over and over again.
6. lindagarrison - January 11, 2011 at 12:48 pm
It's all fine and good to say nonprofits need to lead the charge here, but it's also (with all respect to my colleagues) misleadingly self-aggrandizing. What we need is a commitment to rational dialogue that is led by the media (forget ratings! forget ad sales!) and both sides of the equation -- left and right -- need to dial down the rhetoric. It's appalling to me that the county sheriff is criticized as a "left-wing progressive" by right-wing pundits who also totally disregard the fact that the Republican governor of Arizona is the one who lifted the requirement for concealed carry permits not that long ago. It's disgusting that in this angry, irrational environment, SarahPac had put cross-hairs over the states where they wanted to "take back 20" congressional seats. Likewise, it's revolting to hear Randi Rhodes shrieking on liberal radio about the "idiots" and "morons" and etc. on the right. Vigilante politics will bring out the vigilantes, whether or not they are mentally ill, as this individual apparently is. Besides, the alleged gunman had in his list of favorite books both Mein Kampf and The Communist Manifesto. Perhaps he was cherry-picking radical ideas, or more likely, was an ideological poseur.
7. jdukearts - January 11, 2011 at 01:11 pm
Whether this recent act of violence is a result of hate speech and incivility or not is not the point. Whether nonprofits should lead the way to reform is not important, either. What is important is that the lack of civility in our culture is eradicated. None of us can force other people to behave in a certain fashion. But we can take responsibility for our own actions. A funny thing about civility - when you treat another with respect, they often return the favor. Lead by example. Walk the walk. Model the behavior you want to see. However you define it, make a pledge today to change your own behavior. That's a great start.
8. aweckerle - January 11, 2011 at 01:28 pm
As the founder of CiviliNation http://civilination.org/, a non-profit organization talking a stand for civil digitital discourse, I agree that due to their influence, public leaders and leading media personalities frequently set the tone for the public square. While drawing the conclusion that "hateful speech spawns hateful actions" implies a direct correlation between speech and action that isn't universally applicable, hateful speech can in the right circumstances build up a tolerance for aggression. Therefore, as members of the public, we must make our expectation of greater accountability and responsibility on part of our elected officials and the media expressly known.
9. gsweeten - January 11, 2011 at 01:41 pm
As a psychotherapist and a person involved in writing, speaking and training numerous churches and community groups how to relate in a mutually upbuilding manner, I hope all non profits will expand their program in teaching people how to negotiate with each other with Empathy, Respect and Warm ineractions. The result of those skills and attitudes will be an uptick of caring among families and groups and a downturn in divorce, domestic conflicts, organizational splits and neighors fighting.
That said, as a therapist, the young man who shot these people and killed several was mentally ill. I doubt he was motivated by the Left Wingers who sprout the rhetoric of his favorite book, The Communist Manifesto. Do not blame the screamers like Chris Matthews and Ed Schultz even though they seem to agree with this young man in many ways.
His words were obviously coming from a deeply troubled mind and heart and we need to pray for his peace.
10. 81008973 - January 11, 2011 at 04:31 pm
bec2010 - Where in this piece is the "attack on the right"? Ms. Aviv does say "people with significant influence such as public officials, talk-show hosts, and political-party leaders routinely castigate those who do not share their views." I see no mention of right-wingers, conservatives, or even Republicans in the article. Yet you try to shame(!) her and claim the right is being attacked by a piece of measured prose. Hmmmm... I wonder just who is engaging hyperbolic overeaction in this case.
11. elizabethmadrigal - January 12, 2011 at 02:49 pm
Thank you, Diana, for reminding us that we are not powerless. Yes we can have an influence and we can role model and become more active in setting a tone that is inclusive, civil and genuine.
12. jonkat - January 18, 2011 at 03:18 pm
With regard to the lack of civility presenting a problem in society, I'm sure you would agree that the lyrics of rap songs should be the focus of new regulations on speech as well.