Every Human Life Has Value — Including the Life of a Politician You Can’t Stand
America must deal with yet another assassination attempt on a U.S. presidential candidate
There have now been two known assassination attempts against Donald Trump, perhaps the most controversial politician in America. Many Americans adore him and many others (more?) absolutely loathe the ground upon which he walks.
And two Americans have now tried to take him out — permanently.
As Stephen Collinson writes for CNN:
“Twice within two months, America has narrowly avoided the tragedy of seeing a major political figure assassinated during an election season — and the toxic forces that such an outrage could unleash in a country wracked by visceral partisan divides.”
Those “visceral partisan divides” are near the root of what’s given us 21st-century America. And yet…
The reality is…
You shouldn’t hate anyone. And you shouldn’t wish death on anyone. You certainly shouldn’t act on any death wish for someone.
I fear we are closing in on a new reality in American politics — a reality in which assassination attempts become as common as mass shootings.
We must stand up and say “NO MORE!” to the growing trend of violence in the United States of America.
This is where most Americans divide into two groups…
- “Guns are the problem!” This group places the blame for such violence squarely on the availability of firearms.
- “People are the problem!” This group says it’s not guns, it’s people. They point to mental illness, the breakdown of the family, and other societal changes over the years.
Well, I’m in the minority third group. I’m in the group that wants to tell both of the above groups to…
SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN!
The reality is that BOTH people AND guns are to blame for gun violence in America. This is such a logically obvious statement that it pains me to have to write it!
So, if your reflexive reaction to the latest mass shooting or attempted assassination is to jump to one group or side…
Shut up and sit down.
There are elements of truth on both sides — within both groups that I listed above. Those who say that guns are the main issue have some good points. Those who say people are the main issue have some good points.
Those who say that we should only look at guns or only look at people are unhelpful and delusional.
We need to look at all the ins and outs of violence in America. We need to put everything on the table for discussion. And that includes looking at our gun laws and the relative ease of access to firearms. That needs to be on the table for discussion. And…
We also need to look at the people who commit such violence. We need to look for trends and commonalities. And we need to look at society overall. We need to come to grips with the sad and shameful fact that we’ve mainstreamed hate. And that won’t lead anywhere good.
We need to dial down the hate and dial up the love.
We need to humble ourselves, listen more, and work together.
We need to do these things for the sake of our nation and for our children. And their children.
If we’re not willing to do these things, then we have only ourselves to blame for the hell on earth that awaits us in the years ahead.
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