Murdered Girl Had Political Aspirations, Was Symbol of American Life
January 10, 2011
by Anna Belle Pfau
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I will never forget the day of Oklahoma City Bombing. My daughter was 2 at the time, and was at her on-site daycare when I heard the horrific news that The Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City had been hit, including their on-site daycare. Watching the news as the emergency responders pulled so many toddler bodies out of the wreckage really hit home. I wept and immediately left work to gather my baby in my arms, filled with the bittersweet knowledge that but for the grace of something, we were spared. I could not believe that so many parents were hurting because their children were murdered during the most routine of activities.
I had a flashback to that feeling Saturday as reports came in that a 9-year-old little girl was shot in the chest and killed by gunman Jared Lee Loughner at a political event for U. S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. I have taken my own daughter to political events. I’ve integrated her into my own political activism where she has shown interest, because I believe that exposure to that process is important as a citizen and a future woman. Christina-Taylor was there for similar reasons, lovingly escorted by a family friend who had her future in mind and best interests at heart. She was reportedly attending the event to ask Gifford how she could get involved in politics.
According to her mother, Roxanna Green, Christina-Taylor “talked about getting all the parties to come together so we could live in a better country. She was going to Giffords’ event to ask questions about how she could help and to learn more about politics in our country.” She was recently elected student council president at Mesa Verde Elementary School, where she attended 3rd grade.
Christina-Taylor Green was also a 9/11 Faces of Hope baby, one of many infants born on 9/11/2001 whose pictures were collected in a book, Faces of Hope. Her grandfather is legendary baseball manager Dallas Green, her father, John Green is a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Christina-Taylor was herself the only girl on her Little League team. Frank McCourt, owner of the Dodgers, released this statement Sunday:
“We lost a member of the Dodgers family. The entire Dodgers organization is mourning the death of John’s daughter Christina, and will do everything we can to support John, his wife, Roxanna, and their son, Dallas, in the aftermath of this senseless tragedy. I spoke with John earlier today and expressed condolences on behalf of the entire Dodgers organization.”
In many ways, this little girl was a symbol of American tradition and resilience. She was a little girl interested in politics and governance, the oldest of our nation’s traditions. Her birth on 9/11/2001 and inclusion in Faces of Hope meant her life was forever framed by the tragedy that day wrought. By her family’s account, the fact of her date of birth empowered her culturally and politically, and caused her to want to unify our country in ways only children seem to dream of anymore. Her connections to baseball, our beloved national sports pastime, remind us of the crossroads that map American life, how we are constantly intersecting. Her death in this context is deeply troubling, a bright flame of hope snuffed out by madness.
I can’t believe that John and Roxanna Green, and the rest of their family, have live through this heartache. Our heartfelt condolences go out to them in these dark hours. We will never forget Christina-Taylor Green. Her work will continue through people like me and my daughter, who will not be intimidated by this act of violence.
Yes, heartfelt condolences to Christina’s family. Rest in Peace Christina, we will remember you.
Wow – I didn’t know about 9/11. That is really significant too. I just symbolic that although our country has come far, we face the potential assaults from outside AND inside our own borders!
Thanks so much for sharing AB!
Thank you for this post. As a mother I am still numb from this weekend’s events. I feel grief myself over the senseless death of this child. My daughter is also interested in politics, and I have taken her to similar events in our community. I would hesitate now, and I feel bad about that. Perhaps if the culture changes, and the hateful, outrageous rhetoric is replaced with civility, then I will change my mind. But not now. As women and mothers I think we can guide the country to a better place. Most women I know are heartsick.
My prayers are with the Green family as well as with the neighbor that brought her to the event. I can’t imagine the pain and sorrow that they all must be feeling.
Having no children of my own, I often volunteer to take my friend’s children to political events, thinking that I can offer them something special, hoping that I can inspire them to become politically active in ways I would want to have raised my own children to be. As I read about this young child, I felt such pain to the friend who did as I always want to do, who unwittingly exposed Christina to harm.
I subscribe to the “It Takes a Village” philosophy of raising children. This incident, however, in addition to the loss of lives and the physical injury, will make people like me think twice about offering to bring other people’s children to events like this.
Risa – I’m sad that one coward can even make you feel that way.
Separately, I meant to tell you that I finally rented It’s Complicated – eh – but I love that Meryl seems to be letting herself age naturally and I loved that house!
sssssssooooooooo sad……
my daughter is hesitating to go to political events. I don’t know, but some lunatic should not have that effect.
separately I think owning a gun should not be a right but a privilege and people would need to be thoroughly screened before getting weapons. to rely on the arms sellers to screen is naive. and so many sick people are not recognized or listed with their conditions.
Although there are worse places, this is a horrible planet. An armed society is a safer society.
The Lord giveth
and the government taketh away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
ISamuel 8:9-19
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