The shooting of a United States Congresswoman along with 18 other American citizens calls for an examination of the circumstances leading up to the Jan. 8 tragedy.

Yet the tragedy itself should not be used as a stepping stone for politicians to fulfill their own agendas. To do so would be a disservice to the men, women and child who fell victim to the assassination attempt.

Already we see pointed fingers and sharp tongues eager to create a scapegoat.

On Jan. 12, President Obama refused to lay blame on any one reason to explain why this tragic incident occurred. Instead, he focused on the outcome, stepping away from the political game and showing a spark of human emotion. We commend him for that.

This is a tragedy we hope never will be repeated. Work and research need to be done to root out the cause and provide preventative measures. However, the manner in which work and research is conducted is crucial.

After Sept. 11, 2001, the nation stood together to find out who was responsible for the heinous act. But this case is different.

Authorities already have the shooter in custody and can delve straight into how a mind could conceive such an act. But instead of cooperating in the search for understanding, the country is becoming further divided as Left blames Right and Right blames Left.

Outbreaks of blame point toward the Second Amendment, the hate speech of politicians and the lack of mental health services in the nation that some say are continuing to widen the very divisions many say were the potential trigger that sparked Jared Lee Loughner to open fire.

In the months leading up to the shooting, a cloud of hate has pervaded Congress and all political climes. Mud slinging has been taken to a new level Columns, editorials, blogs, conversations and personal emails all have incorporated language that is hurtful, accusatory and hateful.

Many Americans believe the increasing tension between the political parties is directly to blame for the shooting.

CBS News released a survey stating that 32 percent of those asked said they believed the shooting was a result of the negative tone that American politics currently are taking. Vision Critical released a similar survey revealing that 37 percent of Americans share that view.

One-third of Americans think that the current attitudes of politics are directly to blame for the shooting of 19 people.

We can only imagine how many more believe the current climate is hurtful, if not murderous.

Whatever the real reason Loughner attempted to assassinate a Congresswoman, if it was in fact because of the political strife we all are witnessing, the continued vehemence we spit at each other can only create more gunmen.

At the very least, we must temporarily suspend our differences while we search for answers.

Discourse and debate are possible, and even necessary, without the dissention that divides us on a personal level. Obama called us as a nation to remember the dead and wounded, applaud the heroes who helped stop the shooting and, most of all, to remember them when we go back to our everyday lives.

And for once, out of respect for the wounded and dead, we must stand together behind our president.