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Summoning the soul of a nation, President
Barack Obama on Wednesday implored Americans to honor those slain
and injured in the Arizona shootings by becoming better people,
telling a polarized citizenry that it is time to talk with each
other "in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds." Following
a hospital bedside visit with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the target
of the assassination, he said: "She knows we're here, and she
knows we love her."


      In an electrifying moment, the president revealed that Giffords,
who on Saturday was shot point-blank in the head, had opened her
eyes for the first time shortly after his hospital visit. First
lady Michelle Obama held hands with Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly,
as the news brought soaring cheers from thousands gathered for a
memorial service.


      Obama bluntly conceded that there is no way to know what
triggered the shooting rampage that left six people dead, 13 others
wounded and the nation shaken. He tried instead to leave indelible
memories of the people who were gunned down, and to rally the
country to use the moment as a reflection on the nation's behavior
and compassion.


      "I believe we can be better," Obama said to a capacity crowd
in the university's basketball arena and to countless others
watching around the country.


      "Those who died here, those who saved lives here - they help me
believe," the president said. "We may not be able to stop all
evil in the worhe line of people waiting to
talk with her, law enforcement officials said. The attack ended
when bystanders tackled the man, Jared Lee Loughner, 22, who is in
custody.


      Obama's speech, by turns somber and hopeful, at times took on
the tone of an exuberant pep rally as he heralded the men who
wrestled the gunman to the ground, the woman who grabbed the
shooter's ammunition, the doctors and nurses who treated the
injured, the intern who rushed to Giffords' aid. The crowd erupted
in multiple standing ovations as each was singled out for praise.


The president ended up speaking for more than half an hour,
doubling the expected length of his comments. Memories of the six
people killed dominated much of Obama's speech. The president, for
example, recalled how federal Judge John Roll was on his way from
attending Mass when he stopped to say hello to Giffords and was
gunned down; Dorothy Morris, shielded by her husband, but killed
nonetheless; and Phyllis Schneck, a Republican who took a shine to
Giffords, a Democrat, and wanted to know her better. 


He spoke at
length of 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green, the only girl on her
Little League team, who often said she wanted to be the first woman
to play in the major leagues. She had just been elected to the
student council at her elementary school and had an emerging
interest in public service.


      "I want us to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy
to be as good as she imagined it," Obama said. The little girl was
born on Sept. 11, 2001, and had been featured in a book about 50
babies born that day. The inscriptions near her photo spoke of
wishes for a haAbout a mile away, at University Medical Center, Giffords
lay fighting for her life. Other victims also remained there
hospitalized.


      The memorial service was an important part of the mourning
process for some of those who had lined up hours in advance to gain
a seat.


      "If we don't say goodbye and have a chance to say goodbye in an
appropriate way, it will linger," said Patty Sirls, 62. "So, for
me, it's a closure."

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Politics and Government News

Summoning the soul of a nation, President
Barack Obama on Wednesday implored Americans to honor those slain
and injured in the Arizona shootings by becoming better people,
telling a polarized citizenry that it is time to talk with each
other "in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds."

Obama tells polarized nation: 'We can be better'

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