The focus and tone of President Obama’s Tucson memorial speech demonstrated that he misunderstood his role. While he was articulate as expected and even emotional at times, he failed to publicly connect with the most important guests: the survivors of the victims.
Clearly he was not aided in his presentation by the university setting and the rally nature of the event complete with cheers, boos and t-shirts with logos. However, his words needed to elevate this gathering to a higher standard. Memorials are time for eulogy, words of high praise, which honor the dead and evoke remembrances in the survivors. It is not a time for admonishment or suggestion of remedies. There will be another time to examine the motives of the perpetrator as well as the systems that failed to provide adequate protection. This memorial should have focused solely on providing comfort to the survivors and noting that their loved ones perished in a nation of 300 million people who live with incomparable freedoms that, for the most part, provide exceptional quality of life while at the same time occasionally inviting tragedy. Resolving not to live in fear would be their greatest memorial.
— Ron Bearwald, Northbrook
