Appearing on the Today Show, John Green and his wife Roxanna were asked about their feelings about the tragic death of their daughter Christina, age nine, at the hands of Tucson shooter Jared Loughner.
John Green, grieving father, replied:
“This shouldn’t happen in this country, or anywhere else, but in a free society, we’re going to be subject to people like this. I prefer this to the alternative.”
With his last six words, he established himself as superior in mind, principles and character to all of the unscrupulous commentators and devious politicians who have attempted to use this terrible tragedy to stifle dissent.
John Green leaves all of us wondering if we could summon such perspective, rationality and nobility under similar circumstances.
Ethics Alarms 
I could never criticize John Green for anything he might say in the wake of his daughter’s savage killing, but I question what he meant by “the alternative.” if he meant living under a despot I agree. If he meant living in a free society where it was a little more difficult for a crazy person to buy a killing machine with two extra large clips, I prefer the alternative.
Never took it to mean that, though you are right: it could. I take the alternative to be suppression of free and vigorous dissent and debate, which is the undercurrent of the current coverage.
I like free and vigorous debate. I don’t like “Obama is a Kenyan Muslim” or “Bush is a baby-killer” or “Republicans health care plan is for you to die” or “you lie” or Bart Stupak is a murderer.” That’s the target of some of the media coverage. Some are trying to pin the murders on Glenn Beck, but that’s not what even Maddow and Olbermann are saying.
“You lie!”, in the right place and time, is perfectly acceptable. Sarah Palin didn’t say any of those things, and hasn’t. And the Democratic comments in your list are NOT the target of the current media lynch mob to pin murders on conservative rhetoric. The asinine Sheriff accuses Rush Limbaugh, who has never advocated violence or violent rhetoric. This is intimidation, Bob, 1984 style. A fool Democratic Congresswoman is now claiming that using “job-killing” is hate speech. Take the words away, and it sure is hard to dissent. Every American should be revolted—and alarmed– at this naked effort at criminalizing political speech, by one party against its adversaries.
What did you think of Jon’s (of The Daily Show) discussion on the topic of the Arizona shootings? I thought it was quite good, considering the nastiness going on. Also, I posted your original post on the journalistic response to the shooting to my Facebook page, and most of my colleagues agreed with your assessment. So, apparently we’re not all douches.
Clearly not. But the fact that so many media types refuse to back off of this is stunning to me.
I thought, all in all, Stewart was pretty measured. Tough job, on a satire show.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Green family, such a tragic loss.
Putting all the political rhetoric aside, the responsibility for this horrific incident lies with the shooter, no one else.
Great choice for an ethics hero, I don’t know if I could be that insightful at that moment.
I concur with Mr. Green, Jack. I’m amazed at his fortitude after having lost the child that must have been the joy of his life. Thank God I’ve never had to deal with what he is at present. God be with him.