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>> and now, "bbc world news." >> these men and women remind us that heroism is found not only on the field about -- fields of battle, they remind us that this is not require special training or physical strength, her wisdom is here in the hearts of so many of our fellow citizens, all around us just waiting to be summoned as it was on saturday morning. their actions, their selflessness poses a challenge

to each of us and raises the question of what beyond pares -- prayers and expressions of concern is required of us going forward. how can we honor the fallen? how can we be true to their memories? when a tragedy like this strikes, this is part of our nature to demand explanations and to try to impose some order on the chaos and makes sense out of that which seems senseless. already, we have seen the national conversation commence not only about the motivation behind these killings but about

everything from the merits of gun safety laws to the adequacy of our mental health facilities. much of this process of debating about what might be done to prevent such tragedies in the future is an essential ingredient in our exercise it in its -- power exercise of self- government. at a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized, at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the defeat of those who happen to think differently than we do, it is important for us to pause for a minute and make sure that we are talking with each other in a

way that heals, not in a way that warns -- that wounds. [applause] scripture tells us that there is evil in the world and that terrible things happen for reasons that defy human understanding. in the worlds of job, "i look for light and their compartments -- and there came a darkness." we have to guard against simple explanations in the aftermath. the truth is that no one of us can know exactly what triggered this vicious attack, none of us

can know with any certainty what might have stopped these shots from being fired or what thoughts largest in the inner recesses of a violent man mind. yes, we have to examine all of the facts behind this tragedy and we cannot and will not be passive in the face of such violence. we should be willing to challenge old assumptions in order to lessen the prospects of such violence in the future. [applause] but what we cannot do is use this tragedy as one more occasion to turn on each other. [applause] the that we cannot do.

[applause] mthat we cannot do. as we discussed these issues, let us each to do so with a good dose of humility. rather than pointing fingers or assigning blame, let us use this occasion to expand our moral imaginations and to listen to each other more carefully, to sharpen our instincts for sympathy and remind ourselves of all of the ways that our hopes and dreams are bound together. [applause]

after all, that is what most of us do when we lose someone in our family. especially if the loss is unexpected. we are shaken out of our routines and we are forced to look inward. we reflect on the past and we spend enough time with an aging parent and we express our gratitude for all the sacrifices that they made for us. we tell this house just how desperately we love them, not just once in awhile but every day. -- we tell our spouse how much we love them. some things cause us to

on the -- some things cause us to reflect on the present and the future. we nurture our relationships with those who are still with us. [applause] we might ask ourselves if we have shown enough kindness and generosity and compassion to the people in our lives. perhaps we question whether we are doing right by our children or our canadian -- or our community or whether our priorities are in order. we recognize our own mortality. we recognize in the fleeting time we have on this earth what matters is not wealth or status

or power or same -- or fame, but rather how well we have loved and what part we have played in making the lives of other people better. [applause] that process of reflection, of making sure that we aligned our values with our actions, that i believe is what a tragedy like this requires. for those who were harmed, those who were killed, they are part of our family, 300 million strong.

we might not have known them personally but surely we see ourselves a number and in georgia and dorwin, we sense the abiding love that we have for our husbands and wives and house partners. phyllis, she is our mother or grandmother, gabriel, our brother or son in judge roll, we prize not only someone who does his job well but also someone

who -- in gabby, we see the public spiritedness and the desire to participate in that sometimes frustrating and sometimes contentious but always necessary and never-ending process to form a more perfect union. [applause] in christina, in cristina we see all of our children, so curious, so trusting, so energetic, so full of magic, so deserving of our love and so deserving of our good example.

if this tragedy proms reflection and debate as it should, let's make sure that this is worthy of those we have lost. [applause] -- if this tragedy prompts reflection and debate as it should, let's make sure it is worthy of those that we have lost. let's make sure that this is not in the rome of of politics and pettiness that drifts into the next news cycle, the loss of these people should make everyone of us strive to be better in our private lives, to be better friends and neighbors, co-workers and parents. and if, as has been discussed in recent days, their deaths helps

to usher in more civility in our public discourse, but us remember that this is not because a simple act of civility caused this tragedy, it did not. rather, because only a more simple and honest public discourse can help us face up to the challenges of our nation in a way that would make them proud. [applause] [applause] we should be civil because we

want to live up to the example of public service, like john roll and gennady giffords -- gabby giffords. we would like to bequeath the american dream to future generations. [applause] they believed to and i believe that we can be better. those who died here, those who saved lives here, they help me believe. we might not be able to stop all evil in the world but i know that how we treat one another,

that is entirely up to us. [applause] for all of our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness that forces -- we are full of decency and goodness and the forces that divide us are not a strong as those that bring us together. that is what i believe in part because that is what a child like christina taylor-green believed. here was a young girl who was just becoming aware of our democracy. she was just beginning to understand the obligations of

citizenship. she was just starting to glimpse the fact that some day she might play a part in shaping her nation's future. she had been elected for student council. she sought public service as something exciting and hopeful. she was off to meet her congressperson, someone she was sure was good and important. she saw all of this through the eyes of a child undimmed by cynicism and vitriol that we as adults to take for granted -- that we as adults take for granted. i would like to live up to expectation. i want america to be as good as

she imagined it. all of us, we should do everything we can do to make sure this country lives up to our children's expectations. [applause] [applause] [applause]

as has already been mentioned, christina was given to us on september 11th, 2001. one of 50 babies born on that day to be pictured in a book called "faces of hope." on either side of her photo in that book, there was simple wishes for a child's life. i hope that you help those in need, read one. i hope that you know all of the words to the national anthem and seeing this with your hand over your heart. -- and sing this with your hand over your heart. i hope you jump in rain puddles. if there are rain puddles in heaven, christina is jumping in them today.

here on this earth, we place our hands over our hearts and we commit ourselves as americans in forging a country that despair forever worthy of her gentle and happy spirit. may god bless and keep those we have lost. may he watch over the survivors and may he blessed the net states of america. -- we commit ourselves as americans in forging a country that is forever where the of her gentle and happy spirit.

[applause] [applause]

>> thank you, president obama for your remarkable and inspiring words. [applause] i also think all the speakers here tonight -- >> the president was speaking there. -- has just thank president obama. he just gave a heartfelt speech

honoring the victims of the tucson shooting on saturday. this is at a memorial service in tucson, arizona. we can now speak to our correspondent in tucson. this was a very emotional and heartfelt speech by president obama. nothing else to do, i imagine. >> what was interesting was that the whole event, president obama seemed to top this off. that was a very powerful and impassioned plea for civility. he looked america in the face and said that we can do better. he was talking right across the board from neighbors doing more for each other to people attacking each other. some wondered if he won touch on the subject on the verbal mud slinging. he looked at this right in the eye and he said the only way

that we can face our challenges is with more simple and honest public discourse. -- some wondered if he would touch on the subject of the verbal months london. >> he gave personal stories reflected his personal involvement and commitment to meeting with the families earlier today. >> that's right, he did meet with them. the majority of his comments talk about those who died. he gave portraits of the six people or killed in the shooting. in some cases, he was talking about how they died like to protect their loved ones. he talked about christina green, the youngest victim of the shooting. she had been elected her school class president and she had come along to see congresswoman giffords speak that day and she was interested in perhaps becoming a politician in the future. president obama used to amend the as a call to america.

he described her as a gentle and happy spread. -- president obama used her memory as a call to america. he described her as a gentle and happy spirit. >> i want to pick up on the comments and also quote from the speech. he said, let's make sure that this is this is where the of what we have lost. this is not on the usual plain of politics and point scoring. this reflects on the comments we have heard from sarah palin and others over this incident. i don't think that we can get steve at the moment. we can go back to roger. did you hear me make that question? can you pick up on that point?

>> i did not catch the question. >> picking up the point you made earlier about a political point scoring hurting president obama, he said let's make sure that this should not be focused on politics and point scoring. obviously, this was a comet towards sarah palin and the accusations that have flown. -- this was a comment towards sarah palin. >> there was some question whether he would allude to this. he said that it was the memory of those who died that made him speak on this subject that americans could do better. he invoked scripture quite a bit and talk about the moral values. he talked about out at a time

when politics and public discourse was most polarized and when people are all too eager to lay the blame of all of the problems with the world at the feet of people who live differently than us, it is differently for us -- the people have been wondering if they take from this that has entered into american politics in the past year or not may have played a part in the actions of the alleged gunmen. the president did not go that far. he did say that this was a very loud debate at the moment. he said the only way that america can face the challenges is by a more honest public discourse. he has not come into this debate at all but a this is a very thoughtful way for him to take a stand on this issue. i am sure that he will have very

strong reactions to this speech. president obama has been struggling in some ways -- and >> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the globe and click-to-play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global expertise to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations.

what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet los angeles.