Seeds of tragedy

I find Charles Krauthammer’s Jan. 12 column either terminally stupid or ethically challenged.

Stupid: American businesses spend billions every year to change our behavior with words; they want us to buy their products and it is called advertising. Churches and their leaders spend countless hours telling us to do good and care for our fellow men. Words do matter: They are a call to action.

Ethically challenged: Jared Loughner is certainly mentally and emotionally disabled. Could he rationally analyze political statements? Obviously not. When such a damaged soul continuously hears political hate speeches he may or may not respond in a violent manner. Most do not, but some few will. Of the hundreds, if not thousands, of similarly damaged souls in this nation, it is not at all surprising that one did respond in the way that Jared Loughner did.

To knowingly incite such people to violence is morally and ethically inexcusable. “For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Beck, Palin, Krauthammer and others have been busy sowing. Poor damaged souls like Jared Loughner are their scythes.

Bryan Bremner

Republic, Wash.