we'll have the reaction from some of the brave souls who risked it all, including daniel hernandez, who sat beside the president tonight. >>> tragedy in tucson. as the country looks inward, a special edition of "nightline" begins right now. >> announcer: from the global resources of abc news terry moran, cynthia mcfadden and bill weir in new york city this is "nightline," january 12th, 2011. >> good evening, i'm bill weir. after five days of anguish and anger, tucson and really the whole nation was due for an emotional cleansing tonight. 25,000 people showed up at a college arena that seats half that many. among them some carrying flesh wounds. all of them scarred emotionally by saturday's murder spree. the heads of state and federal government were there. cabinet members, supreme court justices past and present. and the man who carried the biggest responsibility to the mode podium, barack obama. more than any dark moment before, this was his night to serve as consoler in chief. and after a week of bitter political back and forth, millions tuned in to see how the president would respond

. -- as in brave. they have extraordinary experience. i find people like that to really move me. you read about them in the paper. that is why i am an actor. i love people and their stories. i find a compelling. tavis: i am trying to get a sense of whether or not you feel some conviction, something that compels you an inclusion into wanting to portray on the screen for the rest of us to see women who are brave. >> i did not set out to do that. i did not start my career wanting to find these real-life stories and tell the specific types of stories. these are the stories that i am drawn to preve. hopefully, i will do lots of different types of things. i have to say that something happens when i read them. i am nude from a very deep part of my soul -- i am moved from a very part of my soul by these women. i learn a lot about myself and to i want to become and where i want to grow and where i need to grow. >> you mentioned you expect they will play many more characters. let me ask you a question to be on the record. 20 years from now, i will check back in. he mentioned as you have lo

it belongs to the brave. the challenger crew was pulling us into the future and we'll continue to follow them. i've always had great faith in and respect for our space program. and what happened today does nothing to diminish it. we don't hide our space program, we don't keep secrets and cover things up, we do it all up front and in public. that's the way freedom is and we wouldn't change it for a minute. we'll continue our quest in space, there will be more shuttle flights and more shuttle crews and yes more volunteers, more civilians, more teachers in space. nothing ends here, our hopes and our journeys continue. i want to add that i wish i could talk to every man and woman who works for nasa or who worked on this mission and tell them, your dedication and professionalism have moved and impressed us for decades and we know of your anguish. we share it. there's a coincidence today on this day 390 years ago the great explorer sir francis drake died aboardship off the coast of panama, in his lifetime the great

it's very brave in 1934. give them credit. they wrote it, and a big deal now. you have many german pastors identifying with this document and standing away from the nazis church. bonhoeffer is a leader in this. it was a brave moment for the german church, but i think he felt that really even this was not enough. i think that even the people on the good side, even the people who remembered the confessing church, and there were thousands of these pastors who stood up bravely, and i write about that in the book because we need to remember them, but he realized they are not taking hitler quite seriousliness. they don't understand if we don't fight hitler hard in a sense, take this extremely seriously immediately, the ma nazis are becoming more and more power. . he gets frustrated because people are calling for more dialogue and never seem to think the nazises were going to do what they were going to do that we in hind site know that they did. bonhoeffer in the frustration i think he sees that even his friends don't get it. he goes to london for a year and a half to

funding but some kids are still trying go to school in these villages and i think we owe to those brave children to help those kids finish school and don't worry about the, i.e.d counts but worry about those brave children still trying go to school. this is a school we opened up in 1998. 12 girls in the front row. i asked them to increase it by ten percent a year of the they don't know how to do they're math there. this is what happened one year later. now there's two rows of girls going to school here. this is on the far left in the back, silver beard is the first man to get an education in this school and his story is in the book. incredible story how he left the va ladies and gentlemen and his father booted him across the river and said don't come back until you get your education so he did this and he walked into this urban area and everybody was looking at him if you ask most men there in the back, what's the most proudest moment in your life, most of the men will say the birth of my first born son. not him, he will tell you the proudest moment in my life is to see my two daughters

the government really has a bridge brave brave e.-t. to spend. millions to build a clinic like that because it will be the best clinic in europe and maybe on some side some parts of it will be the best clinic in the world so it's an amazing thing and it will help lots of lots of children that need to be treated you you sort of bird fern the bird that this is a movie is the first in charity work what's what's the what's your favorite favorite pirate of the strategic areas you work when do you get i mean. do so this faction when you do what. of course a grievous satisfaction when you see eyes of happy parents when they say thank you without you guys we couldn't be alive. i am mother of three and there know that as the worst thing when your kids are sick and children. children. i don't feel that it's not mine that somebody else they are children i feel compassion and will you feel any measure if you disregard children if i feel david mitchell desire to help and to do anything i can but also the other side of. the feeling of being part of the great t

on red square itself numbers were limited to twenty five thousand those who braved the elements to claim their spots early on were not disappointed on the stroke of midnight the kremlin's clock tower rang out. marking the beginning of the night's main celebrations. the music only start for policy go is to listen to president made very his new year address shown on big screens across the capital. as we see the old year out we remember it's truly full and sad moments you know the international solution hope that next year good and successful for all of us. the lessons for our country when we missed it will be modern russia together see a strong and friendly country. the evening's christian day was a fabulous fireworks display over the mosque forever a burst of color excess. see for the capitals for. the saying goes to good luck sticks to those who celebrate new year here almost every red square whether or not to choose to believe that what's not in doubt is that those muscovites you managed to secure a spot on this historic love to welcome in the year twenty eleven did so in she russian st

in fact you need to be very brave and just a little crazy to attempt the glen nevis river race. >>reporter: the event also offers a great chance for a bit of corporate bonding. as manager of fort william's underwater centre on scotland's west coast, which trains specialist divers and rov operators for the international oil and gas industry - steve is used to the water - but perhaps not quite like this. >>ham: we spend all our working lives training, teaching people to stay under the water, today we're going to try and stay on top of the water - but it looks great. >>reporter: but as the race winner points out - anyone can do it! >>hammond: anyone can go down on a lilo, it doesn't matter what age or how fit you are you just sort of float down the river - and it's really, really good day for anybody and it is great atmosphere and there'syou know really good competitive people and there are people that are just doing it for a laugh. >>reporter: that much was clear. >>although some turned back from the trickier sections ... others took up the offer of a helping hand. >>all seventy c

>> i am not because this is a big deterrent to people who might -- >> you don't think it's brave newld? >> it,but you know what, we're already in that brave new world whether it's on the internet, facebook, or whatever. we're already there. >> it's your private li >>> predicks, pat? >> trade policy negotiations will go nowhere. the chinese aren't going to give up a trade policy that works for them that fails for us. >> eleanor? >> democrats and republicans, too, i think, will sit with the other party on the night of the state of the union to lessen the impact of one party hooting and cheering and the other side booing. >> monica? >> secretary of state hillary clinton will be forced to answer for the absurd comments she made this week ashirting the tucson shooter with islamic terroristsp. >> arianna? >> all eyes will be on the beijing prime minister who said he's not ruling out a presidential ruin in 2012. >> a federal court in florida will rule the obama care individual mandate is unconstitutional. this echoes the virginia federal court. we salute martin luther king whose national ho

people they be brave at the time. think to do something that's heroic, is to do something that's long and sustained. people like congresswoman gabrielle giffords has been doing all her life. gabe zimmerman, who lost his life. and pam summer, who i had a chance to talk to today briefly for the first time since the incident. they're people that have dedicated their lives to helping others. giving up your life to help others is really something that's heroic. not stepping up once and being brave. >> reporter: the president did share a bit of good news in his piece. the fact that congresswoman giffords' eyes opened for the first time since saturday. did you have any idea that was coming? >> i had no idea. that's the first time i smiled in days. hearing that news, after hearing that she was breathing on her own is incredible. that type of injury, i've been told, is extremely dangerous. not a lot of people make it. but knowing that gabby is the real fighter she is, she's going to keep on fighting. >> thanks to david wright

[applause] >> the san diego padres -- the atlanta braves, the philadelphia phillies, the texas rangers, they are all otta here! [applause] -- outta here! i came to this organization in 1982 and i only knew the couple of things about it. one, it had a really bad ballpark. it used to have a center fielder by the name of willie mays. its current center fielder was some guy named chilly. i also knew that it had not won a change in ship. my daughter started in 1982 and i am happy to say, thanks to these gentlemen here, the torture is over! [applause] how great was that parade? i know everyone up here felt it. i know you felt it. everyone here today, you are standing here, and you are not standing alone. you are standing with the person who taught you the great story of the san francisco giants, whether it is your dad, mom, friend, a sister, grandpa. they taught you right. they thought you had to be loyal. you have to love your team. to a man on this team, to a man back in august, you fuel and energized this group all the way through september, and through the epic month of october, and what

. >> i think it would be a brave thing if the students will be brave enough to do it. >> i question credibility of a text. like pranks, but it's a good idea. >> reporter: chief sarno says the text message survey will cost the district $200 a year and he hopes to expand it to other schools in the district. jana katsuyama, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> we have new information tonight about last week's rat poison scare at a san francisco school. seven students were sent to a hospital after investigating or ingesting rather the poison. the school reported the students thought it was candy. today some students encouraged others to try it knowing it was not candy. the school plans to suspend what it calls the instigators. >>> so is the bright yellow paint job in a pizza restaurant too bright. the paint on the pizza orgasmica is causing a lot of attention. some rafael residents like the color others don't. the pizza restaurant is supposed to open next week. >>> toyota admits another quality problem. how the auto maker is i can't believe that guy made it home. nobody drives drunk anymore. [ ring hold on, i

. >> i think it would be a brave thing if the students will be brave enough to do it. >> i question credibilityof a text. like pranks, but it's a good idea. >> reporter: chief sarno says the text message survey will cost the district $200 a year and he hopes to expand it to other schools in the district. jana katsuyama, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> we have new information tonight about last week's rat poison scare at a san francisco school. seven students were sent to a hospital after investigating or ingesting rather the poison. the school reported the students thought it was candy. today some students encouraged others to try it knowing it was not candy. the school plans to suspend what it calls the instigators. >>> so is the bright yellow paint job in a pizza restrant too bright. the paint on the pizza orgasmica is causing a lot of attention. some rafael residents like the color others don't. the pizza restaurant is supposed to open next week. >>> toyota admits another quality problem. how the auto maker is settling a class action suit targeting it's popular prius. >>> caltrain tonight says budg

giants' starting pitcher, a huge part of their success this season, game 3 against the braves, struck out 11 atlanta hitters, jonathan sanchez. [applause] this guy finished of game 1, the giants first win of the series, right-hander, dear mel -- guillermo mota. >> the giants would not be here without the contribution of this left-hander, no. 75, newberry zito zito -- barry zito. [applause] >> this next guy is now -- and the jersey he wore is in the hall of fame. the jersey from game 5. he beat clint least twice, tim lincecum. [applause] [applause] >> and last but not least, who is ever going to forget the moment from game 5 in texas, one of many great moments in his playoff career, the giants' shortstop, groceries post a valuable player, -- world series most viable player edgar re nteria. [applause] >> now we want you to please welcome a musical guest to perform "san francisco" for us. thank you. ♪ my home on upon the hill i still love you still pipin away but now i am backe to tell you ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] >> now once again, please welcome the great mayor of the great city of san franc

>> because i was brave. >> i would say. a.j.'says he's not sure if he's going to keep wood working on not, but i bet the counting lesson also continue. >>> good karma for folks in virginia. take a look at this one. a young deer was rescued after falling through thin ice on a river in southern virginia. the baby doe finally wa lly wan under a bridge where crews lassoed it and pulled it to shore. the deer is expected to make a full recovery. about a week or two about, there was a deer that ended up in a castor valley home too. they get spooked and they just go where they're going. >> even our water is chilly. >> if you're going to head to the high country today, we're talking snow. around 4,000 feet later on. you can see the spin of the clouds offshore, but that is going to bring us our chance of rain. we have got a little bit coming in not so much toward the midday, but for the evening you'll start to see it show up. tomorrow some rain at times maybe even some thunder with that cold air aloft. an interesting week, you're going to

these street musicians braved the elements to provide live entertainment. several families arrived hours ago to wait for the fireworks show. >> we don't normally see all the fun stuff that goes on so we decided to pretend we're tourists this year. the fireworks show is awesome. we're excited about it. the kids are small so it's fun for them to see it. after that we'll get a taxi to get back to the hotel. and just have a great new year's. >> reporter: it is cold out here and it has even sprinkled on and off. it hasn't dampened people's spirits. they're continuing to arrive. everyone said they never considered not coming down here because of the weather. they said ushering the new year was too important. amber lee, ktvu, channel 2 news. >> we go to times square a live look from new york city where 2011 is about an hour old. the hundreds of thousands people who watched the ball drop pretty much left. although there is still some folks lingering. we'll have a live report from new york in about ten minutes. >> it is 2011 in most of the world where the party star

was he a brave pragmatist? brave pragmatist making this needed change to a system that really needed this change, or was he selling out poor people, people who had no enough to defend them? it really depends how you read the inkblot. it's difficult to see the new deal is alive at this point and liberalism has much left in it. certainly the problems obama has been having and this recent election lost by the democrats, it all seems to indicate that the country has moved on. what was bill clinton's part in that? again, it's very difficult to discern. i think liberals would have wanted someone else. interestingly, david bonyer, a congressman from the detroit area with close ties to labor unions, and of course, being from detroit where the automobile industry is so strong, he says, yes, we would have wanted to have somebody else, but there was nobody else. clinton was the best that the liberals had. anyone else? >> yeah. two terms as american president or this current international global globe trekker. which do you