Australia is deeply shaken by the horrific attack on Helen Haines, the independent member of Parliament from Indi, and one of our most respected lawmakers.
For me, who worked in the US Congress, the shocking violence against her immediately brought back memories of the near-fatal attack on Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona on January 8, 2011. Six others were killed, and 12 more were wounded.
All of us in the Capitol were shaken by such violence. Security was stepped up.
But our political culture continues to this day to be degraded.
Gabrielle Giffords went through years of agonizing and heroic recovery of her physical strength and speech. The path of her survival has earned the respect and support of millions in the US and around the world.
When I worked on the Democratic staff in the US Congress during President Barack Obama's first term, I kept a diary of the events of those fateful years. This was my entry on that day Gabrielle Giffords almost died:
"Sunday, January 9, 2011. A rather horrific weekend. At 1:30pm yesterday, Saturday, word flashed that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Democrat of Arizona, had been shot while meeting with constituents in Tucson.
"Six were killed, including a federal judge and a nine-year-old girl, who happened to be born on 9/11 and was interested in politics and showed up to see her real life congresswoman. By whatever miracle that can occur when a bullet passes from rear to front through the left side of your brain, Rep. Giffords has survived so far, and there are cautious signs for hope regarding recovery ...
"But the news brought this city to a halt; has transfixed the nation; and commanded the attention of the President of the United States, who went on television yesterday with good words of comfort: 'It's not surprising that today Gabby was doing what she always does - listening to the hopes and concerns of her neighbours. That is the essence of what our democracy is all about. That is why this is more than a tragedy for those involved. It is a tragedy for Arizona and a tragedy for our entire country.'
"And actually, the Speaker, John Boehner, said it best: 'An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve.'
"So this issue is: how much of extremism in politics is now a force for life and death in our country? How much hot rhetoric can we stand? There is a sense, tonight, that this is a pivotal moment in the political culture, and that President Obama has a chance to pull us all back to the rational center, and to make the extremists think twice - at least - about their rhetoric and tactics - that he can make them play mind games on themselves in order to dial down the political heat. The country is paying attention and some leadership from the Healer-in-Chief will serve us very well indeed."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's words were perfectly aligned with Obama's. He spoke of her exceptional character. "Most importantly, she is just a thoroughly decent human being full of integrity and respected right across the Parliament and everyone who comes in contact with her."
Turning to rivers of hate coursing through our political cultures, the PM said, "I've called for the temperature to turn down when it comes to political discourse." He added, "I think there has been a rise in temperature and there has been too much shouting, not enough discourse, not enough polite conversation and disagreement."
Listening to what members of Parliament are saying about the vicious words and threats that confront them daily, it is so clear today that our political cultures - in the US and in Australia - have corroded into the politics of hate and rage.
The tributes and counsel from Obama and Albanese are so true. They have been underscored by the words of our head of state, Governor-General Sam Mostyn. "As Helen says all the time, that Australians have good hearts, great hearts, and checking each of ourselves to ensure that we are, in fact, disagreeing well, not fighting with one another, not descending into violence and chaos and division. Most importantly, that we learn or relearn to exercise our muscle of decency."
They have all spoken with the strongest of intentions to bring our political culture back to civility and decency. But even the Governor-General was attacked on social media hours after speaking those words. "I was just saddened this morning to see some of the comments on my own Instagram page, in capitals with expletives, once again questioning the very nature of what it is that I do."
Unfortunately, it is likely that the immediacy of this savage atrocity's violence, and how we must engage with it, will retreat as time passes. Even with the guidance from our leaders across the political spectrum, there is still a recurring threat that we live in times when it will not take long before we will be at each other's throats again.