The deadliest act of anti-Semitism in American history took place miles away from this conference site about a year ago in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh when eleven Jewish-Americans were murdered (and six others were injured) at the Tree of Life Synagogue. In many respects, the tragedy of this mass shooting remains quite sensitive not just for the victims of the shooting but also the larger Jewish and Pittsburgh community alike—and, indeed, American society at large. Though mass shootings are generally associated with a certain level of horror, this paper will note how acts of targeted violence can be particularly noxious. However, an issue that is often viewed with secondary importance is how best to remember and commemorate sites associated with great tragedy. This paper will likewise offer some insights into this issue by considering how previous sites of tragedy have been commemorated and some of the challenges related to doing so. Though it may be difficult to examine this tragedy devoid of larger political trends (and arguably impossible to arrive at clear causal conclusions), this paper will also question the proper place of understanding this tragedy in American history and as part of larger societal and cultural trends.
About the presenterEric D. Miller
Dr. Eric D. Miller is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Kent State University (East Liverpool Campus). Dr. Miller is a highly accomplished scholar in the field of psychology who has, to date, authored or edited three books, published well over 25 additional other academic papers (e.g., journal articles and book chapters), over a dozen different pedagogical materials, and has made over 40 professional presentations. I have previously presented at MAPACA three times and have also chaired a session. My professional Webpage is maintained at http://eric.miller.socialpsychology....