For those of us who follow politics closely, the attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump seemed to be a matter of time. If not Trump, it would have been someone else.
As newsreels and history buffs attest, this wouldn’t have been the first time a president or important political figure had their life ended prematurely.
It’s a phenomenon one does not expect to see in a democracy, because we tend to solve problems and take action through words, rather than violence.
There were many reactions to the shooting Saturday night. Shock, horror, disbelief – these are all responses one could expect from such a momentous event. But the psyche of people hasn’t changed that much over time. Within minutes of Trump’s shooting, misinformation flowed and postured that the whole thing was a publicity stunt.
Had the killer’s gun sites been better calibrated the chance for that speculation would not exist. Instead of accepting the Republican nomination for president, the nation would be planning a funeral.
At some point in the recent past a former council colleague passed along on an old editorial clipping from 20 years previous. Appended with a snide remark about times not changing much, it was interesting to note our plea at that time about harmony and the need for people to work towards common goals. What we found interesting in that share was the same foibles that make it almost impossible for problems to be solved have not changed much over the years. Politics is too personal.
We still maintain everyone has a role to play in keeping discourse moderate and on track. That need for calm is most crucial for those who have the capacity to speak for others, whether members of the media, leaders in education, the religious community, members of the public service and politicians. That list is not exhaustive – it can be as simple as whoever has a position of authority and the capacity to elevate a conversation for good.
It wasn’t a great surprise but nevertheless disappointing for members of academia to use their voice to make light of Trump’s near miss with death. Whether comedic or not, within hours they felt compelled to amplify and shout to the world their classless disregard for human life. Sometimes things are best left unsaid.
As it currently stands a firefighter’s family is left to mourn their dad. Two other casualties survived, but will forever be impacted by the events of that day. A doctor in attendance who attempted to help the firefighter was shaken to his core. Emergency service responders lived their worst fear, for which they are trained, but they were obviously impacted when called to duty. Attendees of the rally, particularly those in the immediate vicinity, who could just have easily been victims, will have this day etched in their mind. And a young man of 20, who was the cause of this chain of events was shot dead at the scene. His family now bears a burden of shame that will last a lifetime.
Making sense of these events is never easy, but out of tragedy something better needs to happen.
One of the most cogent observations in recent days is that politics, owed in large part to culture wars, has become so exaggerated that perspective is lost. We have written numerous times about polarization and the swing to the far left and far right on issues.
One could hope such a brush with tragedy would wake people up to the perils of such political strategies and choices, but we won’t hold our breath on that point. The free world is in a rut of exaggerations that is hard to escape.
It is well known that negative campaigning works because negativity sells. It is as if strategists and the public they coerce have become addicted to it. And much like an addict, there must be a bottom before recovery can start.
How bad does this need to get? That’s the question of our times.
