Melissa sat in for Rachel Maddow last night on one of the biggest news nights of the year, and delivered two remarkable insights into the murders at a suburban Denver movie theater early yesterday. We'll have a Good Look from last week's shows up tomorrow, but it seems most appropriate to share those with you today. (The first is embedded below; the second, below the jump.)
First, she talked about politics:
Both President Obama and Mitt Romney were in agreement today that politics should not be a part of the conversation right now. Politics should in no way color our reaction to this horrific incident in Colorado. But politics is about policy... it's about what we do as a country to deal with the problems that we face. They may not *want* politics to intrude here. But as this story continues to develop... they may not have much of a choice.
Then, about faith, prior to examining the question with former New York Times columnist Bob Herbert:
If we react, without faith, the Colorado massacre can make the problem worse. It is understandable why, in the wake of random, terrifying acts of violence we may want to scoop up our families and fall to our knees in prayers. It makes sense why we may want to do so behind locked doors and drawn curtains that shut out the suddenly scary and unpredictable people around us.
But that is the impulse we must resist by consciously cultivating our civic faith. If the experiment of self-government is going to survive, we must be willing to trust one another, even when trust feels foolish.
There are common sense laws and policies that can make communities safer. If we are responsible, we will move toward enacting them. But no wall will ever be high enough to remove all of our vulnerability.
A good society can never emerge from virtuous but isolated citizens. Democracy requires that we find a way to trust one another in our neighborhoods, our schools, and yes, in our movie theaters.
Melissa and our guests will have much more on the shooting on today's show, so please join us at 10am ET on msnbc.
Melissa Harris-Perry highlights statements by President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, avoiding attaching politics to the tragic shooting in Aurora, Colorado, while at the same time, gun law advocates say such shootings are inherently political because they're politically preventable, and should serve as the impetus for political remedy.
Melissa Harris-Perry emphasizes the importance of Americans' continued trust in one another in the face of frightening tragedy that pushes us toward the safety of isolation. Bob Herbert, distinguished fellow at the Demos Center for Public Policy and Advocacy, joins to talk about the destructive force of gun violence in America.
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Follow the (6). Uniform number 16. Movie Theater: Edwards 16. Theater 9, turn upside down is a 6. And the ammunition James purchase 6,000. Also look at the date 7-20=(13) Friday The 13. This was a Dark Knight for James Holmes.