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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

EndNotes

Where meanness and nastiness lead

The horrific tragedy at the movie theater in Aurora, Colo. put one thing in perspective. The nastiness and silliness of negative campaign ads make no sense in this world where people are killed in random acts of senseles violence.

So Mitt Romney and President Obama campaigns both announced they are pulling campaign ads this week from Colorado, in light of the tragedy. May both campaigns decide to keep negative ads off the air the rest of the campaign, in honor of the victims.

It takes tragedy to awaken to common sense sometimes. Our culture gets carried away with its negative, mean self. So it took Congresswoman Gibbons getting shot in the head to soften Sarah Palin's shoot 'em up rhetoric. It took Sept. 11 to shut down the media frenzy over U.S. Rep. Condit's supposed involvement (later disproved)  and the disappearance of intern Chandra Levy.

May the common sense last.



Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.