Aurora CO: The Names and The Faces of Those We Lost

July 24, 2012

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At this time, I’m sure we have all heard about the tragedy that struck Aurora, Colorado.

Last night, for some unknown reason, I watched Anderson Cooper who devoted his one hour show to the victims and the family and friends of the victims. It provided a different aspect to the tragedy and touched my heart.

What really caught my attention was something that one of the victim’s, Alex Tevez’s, father pointed out –

Why do we always make the bad guy infamous?

He’s 100% right. The media puts the criminal on this pedestal and makes him infamous. Alex’ father said that years from now,

we will remember the name of the shooter, but won’t remember the names of the victims.

He’s right. The Tucson shooting. We know who the shooter was, but name one victim (besides Gabby Giffords who is “famous” in her own right). Do you remember the name of the youngest victim in the Tucson shooting? (The answer is Christina Taylor Green and I only know that because I Googled it.)

Let’s go back to 1995 to the Oklahoma City Bombing. I can tell you the first name of the bomber, but I couldn’t name one single victim even if I tried.

We as a society need to take the media, the attention, the fame off of the bad guy and give more media, attention and fame to those lives lost.

So I am taking that first step and introducing you to the names and faces of the Aurora, Colorado, tragedy on July 20, 2012.

Gone, but don’t ever forget them.