January 8, 2011 will forever be meaningful here in Tucson. It was a day of great pain and unnecessary suffering, a day that exposed both the worst and the best of human nature. People will look back on that day of tragedy and remember what they were doing when they heard the news, and how they felt and reacted. Hopefully in the months and years to come we can also look back to that day as an inflection point, after which Tucson moved forward with determination and resolve to make our community better, and that we in fact succeeded in doing so.
That awful weekend seemed like the two longest days ever. A few days passed before I perceived time accelerating to its normal rapid pace. There was disbelief that this could happen, and that it not only did happen, but it occurred here, in our town, to people we know.
I went to UMC that first afternoon, wanting to contribute somehow, but also looking for answers with all the rumor and misinformation of that chaotic day. Those of us who were drawn to the scene hoped to be able to provide some small measure of comfort and support to those in distress, and we drew comfort from being close to them. Despite the urgent need to focus our collective energies on supporting our neighbors in their critical time of need, it was hard not to wonder how this horrific event would impact the world’s perception of Tucson.
I know Congresswoman Giffords, and I worked with Eric Fuller briefly. Gabby Giffords has the unique ability to make everyone she meets feel like an old friend. She is smart, energetic, engaging, accessible and sincere.
Having learned so much about the other victims, I almost feel I knew them personally too. Since January 8, we’ve learned how interconnected we are in this community of one million; if we didn’t know the victims or their families ourselves, we know people who knew them.
We’ve marveled at the ordinary, yet remarkable people whose paths intersected outside the Safeway. The many acts of heroism made us proud to be Tucsonans, Americans, and human beings.
In the immediacy of crisis, people instinctively acted selflessly to protect or aid others in danger. In the subsequent time of reflection, Tucsonans have pulled together to provide mutual support and to consider how to make Tucson a better place. Despite our shock, anger, sadness, and profound sense of loss, our fellow Tucsonans responded quickly, creating public shrines, organizing memorial walks and planning fundraisers.
Some in the national media noticed how Tucson responded, and that was gratifying. Tucson isn’t a bunch of lawless, crazy people. It’s an eclectic, “big small town” where people care.
There has been much talk about civility. President Obama suggested at the “Together We Thrive” service that conducting public discourse in a civil manner not only establishes the appropriate, respectful tone in the aftermath of the tragedy, but it is a prerequisite for effective community problem-solving. Along those lines, my boss, Council Member Kozachik, joined with other elected officials, pledging to work more respectfully—and therefore more constructively—with each other.
Gabby’s amazing recovery to this point has provided incalculable inspiration near and far. Here in Tucson, you can see, hear, and feel it: people want to make a statement that we are much better than this heinous act, and that we are proud of our city, yet recognize that we can and must make it better.
With the national media gone, Gabby recovering in Houston, and all of the other survivors out of the hospital, we are faced with that which we can control. While a degree of normalcy is welcomed, we must not allow the inevitable process of getting back to “business as usual” to create complacency. We must not miss this opportunity to make our city a better place to live, learn, and work. At the very least, such a tragedy should never happen in our community again.
Tucson has such unique character, and so much potential. I hope that we can maintain that which we love about Tucson and build on that. I hope that Tucson becomes a safer and more prosperous city, but that it never loses its character and community spirit.
Donovan Durband has been professionally involved with the betterment of Downtown since 1998, and now serves on the staff of Ward 6 City Council Member Steve Kozachik.
