The Hope of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

When Rep. Gabby Giffords walked into the Congressional chambers for the debt ceiling vote, I joined the rest of America in an emotional mix of tearful exhilaration. Having built up a surfeit of cynicism and bitterness, her presence changed the moment.

Seeing her standing with a full head of hair; her intelligent gaze acknowledging members of congress as the entire chamber rose and applauded brought back the horrifying images of that January day with the downed bodies in the Arizona parking lot. We recalled the tragic death of a young girl, the heroism of an American who gave his life to protect others, and the absolute senselessness of the violence. We recalled too the days that followed: the ugly finger pointing, the cross-hairs, and the overheated and violent rhetoric of our public debate which was fortunately redeemed by one of the greatest speeches our President has given during his time in office.

Since that time, the American public has periodically dipped into Rep. Gifford's progress. We prayed for her during her successful (almost miraculous) surgery, and eagerly read the news as she learned to smile, and speak, and went to see her husband's liftoff on the last voyage of space shuttle. For the last eight months, Rep. Giffords has been a through-line -- a cord of inspiration and endurance in a time of discord and uncertainty. When she walked into Congress, determined to cast her vote, she offered what we most need as Americans right now -- hope.

Americans have lost a lot of faith in our government in the last months. For some, it is because they don't trust government and want less of it; for others, it is because the government has not fulfilled its role to provide for basic dignity and justice for the most vulnerable. Progressives and conservatives have both been virulently partisan in our recent debt ceiling debate; feeling further alienated from one another and the country that we all say we love. And then in walks Gabby Giffords, who after all she has been through came to Washington because she believed that this vote was too important to miss.

Rep. Giffords was shot while fulfilling her duty as an elected government official -- meeting with her constituency so that she could better represent them. The hope that Gabrielle Giffords represents is not reflected in her politics or the way she voted. She gives us hope because her presence in the chamber reminds us that the democratic process has an intrinsic value that is worth giving our life to secure. In the face of terrorists and crazies who are taking to guns in a stated effort to circumvent or undermine democracy -- we had a testimony of a life deeply committed to the democratic ideal.

Thank you Rep. Giffords for reminding us of the real sacrifices of democracy. If you can maintain faith in our system of government, then hopefully the rest of America can join you.

 

 

 

Follow Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on Twitter: www.twitter.com/raushenbush

Comments

[Joseph Schmoe]

10:03 PM on 08/03/2011

I hope she eventually regains speech and motor development and her full range of everything she lost.
Until then, I also hope she resigns. Face it; she is not now equipped to do the job she was elected to do, nor will she be any time soon. Facts is facts.

[Gregor53]

12:31 PM on 08/04/2011

Maybe if all the rest of Congress was unable to speak without some thought and then have some assistance in communicating, it would be good. I am curious why you feel she could not do her job? I find many in Congress that are able to speak that really are unable to do their job. Although some on this post seem to challenge the statement that "the rest of America in an emotional mix of tearful exhilaration. Having built up a surfeit of cynicism and bitterness, her presence changed the moment", yes, it probably was not everyone, but then again, I hear the statments about the rest of America feels all the time. I personally, am one of the "rest of America" and I would simply wonder why people would not have such a thought for an individual that was Shot in the Head while doing their job, fought for recovery and then returned to the job. Apparently, in this country, we can no longer tolerate a Good News story so we have to be negative about it. It is another symptom of our decline as a real World Leader with values. However, I would agree, I am not sure why it is in Religion other than it was written by "The Senior Religion Editor - Huffington Post."

[Joseph Schmoe]

09:43 PM on 08/04/2011

Because aside from all the feel-good stuff-which I am so happy for!--the fact is she is incapable of doing her job, and has been for the past 6 months, and will be for the remainder of her term. Please don't cheapen her progress with a lame, "I find many in Congress..." Me, too, pal. But there's a difference between a jerk and someone recovering from major brain injury trauma. I wish her well. I hope she fully recovers, though that is doubtful--read the literature on brain trauma. And should she regain her faculties, I hope she runs again. But the fact is she just cannot do the job and therefore should do the right thing and resign. And yes, I'm a Liberal. I've been voting Democrat since I was 18, over 30 years ago.

[bbertaud]

07:39 PM on 08/03/2011

Mazel Tov !!

[JohnFromCensornati]

06:42 PM on 08/02/2011

"I joined the rest of America in an emotional mix of tearful exhilaration."

I asked people at work today. Nobody had experienced any tearful exhilaration. Who is this "rest of America"? It looked like well-timed propaganda to me. More theater as if we hadn't been subjected to enough already as we race to the bottom.

[GraphicMatt]

09:50 AM on 08/04/2011

"Who is this "rest of America"?"

Answer: People who aren't cynical jackwads.

[JohnFromCensornati]

10:27 AM on 08/04/2011

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz . . .

[darquelourd]

04:25 PM on 08/02/2011

let's not sensationalize God or Giffords, K?

[Gregor53]

12:37 PM on 08/04/2011

Just out of curiousity, why not make a big deal about Giffords? It is not everyday, someone that was elected to represent some of the citizens of the United States gets shot in the head by a terrorist, fights for life and not only recovers, but returns to her job to represent the people that voted her into office. Not only that, but while in recover insist that her husband continue to be the Commander of the last flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery and be wheeled there for the launch. I personally find that sensational. Kudos to Rep Gifford.

[ProofRequired]

12:34 PM on 08/02/2011

Why is this article in the religion section? While the shooting may or may have not been about a belief in god and what it wants from us, her recovery was anything but. She survived and thrives because of educated doctors executing their craft with skill learned through years of studying proven methods and practicing them endlessly. Ms Giffords shown courage in fighting her injuries to show the world humans can beat back long odds.
Americans have lost "faith" in their government because the government has proved itself detrimental at worst and useless at best to our lives. They have proven this over the course of a number of years, and not because we have been told it is true by some invisible force.

[Joseph Schmoe]

07:23 AM on 08/03/2011

I agree. I can't help but notice the sheer coincidence of 'miracles' attributed to people who just happen to be in an excellent hospital surrponded by top-of-the-line equipment and well-trained medical professionals.

[ProofRequired]

10:31 AM on 08/03/2011

It's a miracle, isn't it?

[f0rTyLeGz]

05:13 PM on 08/03/2011

I guess it is in Religion because the words "faith," and "miraculous," are used in the essay.

[Michael Hallmark]

12:18 PM on 08/02/2011

A beautifully written commentary. Thank you.

But I'm curious why it's in the religion section.