Remembering Tucson - One Year Later

Tomorrow commemorates the massacre in Tucson, Arizona, where 19 people were shot, six of whom died. One year later, we still remember the tragedy but have long since then forgotten the names of the victims. Without commentary, I feel it is important to remember them as follows:

Honoring the deceased:

Christina-Taylor Green

Dorothy Morris

John Roll

Phyllis Schneck

Dorwan Stoddard

Gabriel Zimmerman

Honoring the injured:

Bill Badger

Ronald Barber

Kenneth Dorushka

James Fuller

Randy Gardner

Gabrielle Giffords

Susan Hileman

George Morris

Mary Reed

Pamela Simon

Mavanell Stoddard

James Tucker

Kenneth Veeder

Here is a reflection from one of the survivors, who is also a cherished member of our extended blogging community. In honoring the victims, I recall this poem by Henry Braun, To One for Whom Poetry and Morality are Inseparable ...

The skin of this peach is drawn
back in zigzags; in that
a baby Charybdis
of rot twists down
towards the peachstone
lazily. At 3',
5", the table bears
five oranges, one splitting
(like the peach), two pears and room
for more food.
                      Across the room
a girl, sexy, legs crossed,
intense as an animal,
has her skirt played with by
sunrays. On her finger
is a small diamond that recalls your mind.

In remembering the victims, there are times when I wish polity and morality were inseparable too.