Here's the definition for "vitriol" from dictionary.com, The World English Dictionary: (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vitriol)
| vitriol (ˈvɪtrɪˌɒl) -- noun | |
| 1. | another name for sulphuric acid |
| 2. | any one of a number of sulphate salts, such as ferrous sulphate ( green vitriol ), copper sulphate ( blue vitriol ), or zinc sulphate ( white vitriol ) |
| 3. | speech, writing, etc, displaying rancour, vituperation, or bitterness |
Rancour means bitter, rankling resentment or ill will; hatred; malice
Vituperation means verbal abuse or castigation; violent denunciation or condemnation.
Both of the above definitions were also found on dictionary.com. It's definition number three that we're concerned with here. In our current political climate, we've been hearing far too much of it -- hateful, disrespectful speech. Using the same word for sulphuric acid and for rancorous speech is appropriate because both are caustic, burning, destructive things. While sulfuric acid's caustic quality makes it useful in industry, hateful speech harms society.
I don't know if the vitriolic speech he'd heard, articles and signs he'd read, commercials he'd heard on the radio, TV, or the Internet influenced the gunman to specifically target Representative Giffords, and to let his rancor spill over onto so many others there.
I do know that this observation by Tucson Sheriff Clarence Dupnik is true: "That [the hateful, bitter speech] may be free speech, but it's not without consequences." -- quoted in the article at http://www.npr.org/2011/01/09/132764367/congresswoman-shot-in-arizona?ps=cprs
It may be that the words and combinations of words used in attempts to win elections became the vitriol that has splashed back painfully on our society.
See also
http://www.npr.org/2011/01/10/132784957/shooting-fallout-political-rhetoric-takes-the-heat?sc=fb&cc=fp
This article uses the word "inflammatory" to describe vitriolic speech.
