I was moved when I heard an Atlanta talk show host recap some of President Obama’s visit with victims’ families in Aurora. Most touching was that one of the family members asked the President not to speak the name of the killer, and he vowed he wouldn’t repeat the name then or in the future. The talk show host vowed to do the same.

I vow to do the same also, and it will be easy. I will long remember the names and faces of the 12 people who lost their lives in this horrible act of violence, and I will also see the faces of grieving family members and friends. But I won’t see the face or remember the name of the shooter. My hope is, as a country, we’ll remember all of the acts of kindness, the outpouring of care, the courage of people in the theatre, the immediate response of law enforcement, and the millions of prayers for the victims and their families.

I hope we will remember the flags, the flowers, the signs and the balloons at the prayer vigil on Sunday. Stories about the victims, favorite pictures, and memories shared among family members. Not a deranged shooter. He is just another pathetic, demented killer who hopefully won’t be remembered at all.

Joy Manbeck, Alpharetta