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Inevitably StupidThursday, Jan. 13, 2011 4:50 AMAfter a spokeswoman took the brunt of criticism leveled against the former half-term Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin has come forward to paint herself as the victim of 'blood libel' in the wake of last weekend's shooting. Which does nothing but show Palin's astounding and vast ignorance. The term is a reference to anti-Semitic myths suggesting that Hebrews use the blood of infants to make matzoh, among other things, and elicits a strong response from many Jewish people. Palin also suggests that the founding fathers didn't intend a violence-free society, as dueling was prevalent. Oh, please. Apart from the infamous Burr-Hamilton Duel and a dozen-odd duels fought by Andrew Jackson, our founding fathers were not a pack of Wild West gunslingers, ready to jerk leather at the slightest offense. (It should be noted that Burr-Hamilton took place in 1804, nearly three decades after the Declaration of Independence.) Other media analysts have waxed poetic about how this is Palin's first salvo in the 2012 Presidential Campaign. Stuff and nonsense. Y'all said Hillary Clinton was 'inevitable,' too. Sarah Palin's statement only underscored her ignorance of history and her love of violent rhetoric - that because duels of honor were common in early America, we should turn a blind eye to politicians and media figures who fling violent and inciteful language about, then wail that they're being unfairly held to account when someone acts on that talk. While there is no evidence that Jared Loughner was inspired to act by the language favored by Palin and others, his actions nonetheless mirror their words. Continued use of such rhetoric nonetheless creates the appearance that they endorse and approve of such actions. But while calmer, saner voices are calling for us to re-evaluate the level of vitriol we have brought to public and political discourse, the purveyors of that vitriol remain defiant about and oblivious to their role - indirect or otherwise - in this travesty.
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