Your post and questions made me think of several things. The words that we speak everyday people either give live or kill. Sometimes, we may inflame someone to a point that will actually kill physically. However, most of the time we kill bits and pieces of people around us. An example of this would be when parents crush their children with verbal abuse or when husbands and wives destroy each other with criticism or even worse statements about the others abilities. We kill everyday in the name of capitalism with our TV and radio commercials by making out competitor’s products or statements look foolish. Our military is urged by words and mottos to "Kill them all and let God sort it out". Our youth and unwed mothers are urged by some in society and sometimes family to have abortions.
When you read Aristotle and Cicero along with the rest of our teachers, they are always warning us and asking us to take responsibility for what we say and how we say it. The blame for the shooting in the article cannot easily be blamed on Rhetoric, because the man had many other issues. Did the views of the church draw him to them? Yes, but it was a small part. He was ready to do something and the church’s rhetoric drew him to it. This brings up the question of mental illness, is Rhetoric still responsible, or is responsibility presupposing a receiving mind that is rational. This man probably had bits and pieces of him killed way before he killed. Did years and years of misused rhetoric on top of the liberal views expressed by the church combine to create this murder? I would say, yes.

But, you know, I don't think that's new news really. Sure, rhetoric can be used to lead to all kinds of tragedies and utter failure on the part of the human race. Hitler for instance. But it also has the power to inspire, fascinate, ignite conversation, and reveal humanity reaching for something a little bit better. Obama for instance.

I mean, yeah the study deserves to be defended. You'll get no argument for me there, but isn't it important to reach out to the public and change their perspective of what rhetoric is and does and how it affects them? Otherwise, isn't it a bit like preaching to the choir? And that's exactly what some of us are trying to do.

-Kaitlin
http://harlotofthearts.org/