Reply #73: Wow, Mr. Pitt. Your editorial moved me to welcome tears of rage. [View All]

[Pooka Fey]

Arizona was my adopted state for 14 years, until 2007. Many people don't realize this, but Tempe, AZ (and Maricopa county by extension) has a very sophisticated visual art and live music scene. All my musician and artist friends (all progressives) continue to live there - I can name more than 100 personal friends and acquaintances who are dedicated, serious artists - not "dabblers"; many of these people are highly sensitized and dedicated to this community and to progressive causes. I'm just one musician out of hundreds, so thinking exponentially - there are a lot of professional leftists in AZ - not everyone there is a gun-toting, bible thumping, knuckle dragger.

When I talk to my friends, they have been telling me their stories with horror in their voices (and I'm talking about since the 2008 election) about the unprecedented deterioration of the social intelligence level in greater Phoenix - the 5th largest metropolitan region in the USA. The "crazy" atmosphere has been amplified 100 fold since President Obama came to office. My friends live their lives, but they are suffering from the madness of the political climate and the poisonous right/hate wing social disease which has overtaken that region. I now live in Europe (I got out), but my residency is in question (Europe doesn't want or need any more immigrants) and I might be coming back to the USA soon. Even from the other side of the world, I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest since Saturday's political assassinations (attempted and actual --- the murdered staffers count). I'm grieving for my country and my adopted state.

I am also having to deal with the fact that I have "ditto-heads" in my immediate family, (who have remained silent since Saturday, knowing full well how much I love Arizona) and I'm having a hard time deciding how to continue to have a family relationship with people on that side. Remind you of America in 1859? For me, a psychological line has been crossed.

Bravo for this piece, Mr. Pitt. You've hit it out of the ballpark AGAIN. :loveya: