Dear Commons Community,

President Barack Obama in a moving thirty-three minute address last night at a memorial service at the University of Arizona in Tucson, called for Americans to heal our wounds.  There were many highlights including when:

.he mentioned that Gabriele Giffords opened her eyes for the first time earlier in the evening;

.he gave a brief bio of each of the victims;

.he said “let us discuss these issues with a good dose of humility rather than assigning blame”;

Lastly, in response to the back and forth bickering among politicos, pundits, and the media, the President said:

“And if, as has been discussed in recent days, their deaths help usher in more civility in our public discourse, let’s remember that it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy — it did not — but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to our challenges as a nation, in a way that will make them proud.”

Tony