Today, Globe readers are responding to the horrific synagogue shooting over the weekend in Pittsburgh.
A person pauses in front of Stars of David with the names of those killed in a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.Matt Rourke/The Associated Press
From The synagogue shooting victims: A Canadian, ‘a sweet, sweet guy’ and a ‘generous, caring’ woman
When one reads about the lives of these unfortunate victims, the common thread among them is that they were active contributors to their community and society, and they were loving generous people. Such a shame that such good lives have been ended and especially by such brutality and hatred.
It is apparent that their synagogue community was founded and maintained on love. - Thinkaboutit42
From Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh shakes United States
Trump suggested armed guards? Has it come to this? Armed guards everywhere? Maybe it is time to try and solve some of the issues causing these atrocities, not have everyone armed ‘just in case’. - Dutch58
That is a sad and striking line -- “He knew immediately what had happened.” It speaks not only to the persecution that Jews have faced for centuries, but the fear that every peaceful American lives with in an age of rampant guns. Trump’s rhetoric has certainly not helped, but nor did Hillary Clinton’s “deplorables.” Anybody who looks at another and sees not a person and individual, but only a member of a reviled group, is part of the problem. - Freshycat
It is terribly sad to witness a nation founded on noble ideals spiral into depraved violence and hatred. Certainly Trump's caustic patter has played a role in fostering the hatred, but he is a symptom and not the cause of the toxic partisanship that is roiling the U.S.
The racialized hatred, intolerance and the potential for violence was clearly evident in the nascent Tea Party movement and in the reek of the animus it directed towards Obama. With Trump clearly unable to tame even for a moment his partisan instincts and act as the head of state to calm the nation, we are witnessing the trashing of the institution of the presidency from within. This attack is a terrible blow to the American Jewish community and to all Americans. It is to be devoutly wished that America is able to step back from the abyss of extremist violence. - Moseby1
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