Sara
Jane Moore. A name that I had never even heard before but instantly
has had such a huge impact on my thoughts and feelings for today.
I
watched along with millions today as Sara Jane Moore was introduced
and interviewed on the Today Show by Matt Lauer. The grandmother
looking figure looked just what I would have thought a Sara Jane
Moore should look like.
Instead,
Sara Jane Moore is actually a famous name. A woman well known before
my time. A woman who tried to assassinate not just anybody, but the
President of the United States. Gerald Ford was in San Francisco in
the 70's when this woman who was 45 at the time fired a gun at him in
hopes of killing him and starting a violent revolution.
When
asked why she tried to kill Ford, Moore explained that is was a
different era. "I still believe if I hadn't done it, someone else
would.... It was a time people don't remember. We had a war in this
country, the Vietnam War," she said. "The only way it was going
to change was by revolution."
She went
on to admit that her actions were wrong and it took her a while to
figure it out. In fact, it took over six years in solitary
confinement before she realized who she was and what she did. She
realized that she had been misled in terms of what she believed was
happening.
"I
think that I was misled, that I was mistaken. I think I made a
serious error," she told Lauer. "I had to learn later that
everyone else didn't feel that way."
She said
she begin to feel "used." It got me to thinking. How could this
woman be so mistaken to the point that as a single mom of four she
would do something to not only endanger her life, but as serious as
killing the president of the United States.
Then I
began to wonder. She mentioned being "fed" these feelings and
issues. Could someone be so brainwashed or able to hear beliefs to
the point of being riled up to killing someone in defense.
I think
we all know the answer to that. I think sometimes we all want to
help. We all want to matter. We all want to make a difference.
The only
thing that puzzles me is her age. I can relate to being moved to
passionately fight for a cause, but I was much younger.
Many do
not know this about me, but I was raised in Arkansas. Former
President Bill Clinton was my governor the majority of my life and
then President after that. By the time I was 18, when he took
office-he had served as governor for 12 years.
My
father, who was very active in the Democratic Party, took me to every
rally within a 100 mile radius from the time I was four. I thought
Clinton was the most honorable man I had ever seen. I celebrated
alongside millions in downtown Arkansas the night of the election at
his block party. Packed like sardines cheering.
When
news first broke of affairs, I bought into the propaganda of
conservatives paying people to make up lies. I bought into the
perfect image of the man. It isn't the only time I can look back on
and feel stupid for the things I believed.
I bought
into things friends told me and even denied mistakes made by family
members. There are times even today that I believe what people say
and take on their fights only to find out later I was misled. So what do you believe in? How
do you keep yourself from making mistakes as big as Sara Jane Moore?
I
eventually have grown older and I venture to say wiser. I learned to
not repeat other causes until I was sure I truly felt or believed
that way. I consult God more on my actions. All of this took a long
time and I can honestly say I am not there yet.
I guess
my question now moves to: How do I get my kids to not make the same
mistakes and be influenced by others opinions and beliefs? We all at
some point become anti-establishment. What keeps us or how do I teach
my kids to not cross the same line Moore crossed? Just a point to
ponder. I would love to hear your views in the comment section below.
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