Gabby,
I heard the news yesterday afternoon when a fellow Scrippsie called me in tears. Before she could get the tragic words out my phone was beeping with another Scrippsie on the line. That’s how the day continued. Call after call after call.
Please know how respected you are. How loved you are. I was a poli-sci major, class of ’07, and currently work in politics. Though I don’t agree with you on all the issues I have the utmost respect and admiration for you. You are a woman of absolute integrity and an incredible role model for all of us Scrippsies. You spoke at my sister’s commencement (also a Scripps grad), and I will never forget how moved and inspired I was by your words. I felt proud then, and even more proud today, to be able to call you a sister.
My aunt was at the ceremony and posted this on my Facebook wall:
Didn’t realize for many hours that the congresswoman who was shot yesterday was the brilliant and amazing Gabrielle Giffords who spoke at Si’s [my sister's] commencement. I remember being so much more impressed by her life story and message than by any other commencement speech ever — and at my age I’ve heard many. Rhea [my cousin] and I sat beside each other in the audience and I know the two of us were inspired and moved to tears. On learning about this senseless shooting I was saddened; on realizing that one of the victims was that magnificent congresswoman who has dedicated herself to working tirelessly for the citizens of Arizona and the good of our country, I don’t have the words to describe this tragedy. May she heal soon.
You are in all our thoughts and prayers. We love you.