What is behind the current wave of political and school violence? Is it a societal problem or a political one? Does society in the US condone political violence? From some learned estimates, about 20% of Americans, depending on how the question is asked. According to a PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll published in April of this year, approximately 20% of Americans believe that political violence can be justified at times. Demagogues and aspiring influencers have appealed to that segment to rise to power and the emergence of social media has provided the newest vehicle for promotion. There is certainly a political element, but is it more?
To take a deep dive into what is causing this, I found this illuminating article: What’s Driving Political Violence in America. Emerging from the events of the past few days, the assassination of Charlie Kirk and a Evergreen High School shooter had in common: political extremism on social media.
The Everngreen shooter (now deceased) had spent much time on a neo Nazi website. Online footprint of Evergreen High School shooter reveals a troubling past | Watch The Kirk killer's motivation is yet to be revealed, other than he came from a very conservative family who placed great value on gun ownership and 2nd amendment freedoms. Reported conversations with others leading up to the shooting indicated political disagreement with Charlie Kirk's positions. The accused's social media postings and often-visited websites have not been revealed, except for Discord. Neither shooter used an "assault" weapon, but lethal weapons were nonetheless legally and easily available. These shooters would have had many more victims if these weapons or war had been used. The problem was not the type of weapons used in these two events; the problem was something else.
The promotion of such violence by political leaders to resolve problems, no matter what media is used or by whom or what group is involved, also gives some sort of green light to the deranged to seek glory and even death.
While the two young men involved, one 18 and the other 22, may not have been aware of any of Trump's record, there are those on social media and in political leadership who have laid the groundwork for any degree of general societal approval of the use of violence in politics is legitimate. They reflect this view in social media and postings by influencers that inspire wannabe political killers
My own view:
Let us start with the top promoter of violence to achieve a political goal, the permission slip giver, the president of the United States, himself. Do not expect Trump to become the champion against political violence or take any moral leadership on this issue. He has a long record in exhorting such violence. The record is clear and documented. Here is my tracking of Trump's dog whistles to those who commit violence on his behalf and his own exhortations of violence in public statements: MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: Documented history of Trump's call to violence 2020-June 2024
Charlie Kirk assassination: Suspect allegedly used Discord before shooting - YouTube
The damage assassinations do to the cause of saving democracy from dictators and autocrats is profound: Political violence is what the founders of our democracy wanted to prevent. There are some sane voices rising and one deserves special recognition.Utah Governor Spencer Cox emerges as voice of reason in wake of Charlie Kirk killing - Newsweek
From my September 11 Facebook posting: The killing of Charlie Kirk was also an assassination attempt on democracy. Our country was founded during the Age of Reason, where citizens were considered capable of using their brains and reason to do what would be in the best interest of the country as a whole. Instead of violence and bloody revolution, which had plagued Europe and England to pit self-interested and religious fanatics against each other, Madison and others crafted a way to permit political discourse and debate to bring reason to political governance instead of violence and to protect even the voice of dissidents. There are always _those in any society who only see violence and hate as the way to get their way, but democracy was to formed to let the voice of rational people to be heard and the majority to be elected. Some are also deranged and so angry that they have lost reason. For those who see assassination as a tool to gain power, they are not protecting democracy, but destroying it.
Further thoughts on my Facebook posting on September 11. I realize some do not give a twit about democracy. They are so bound up by either ignorance of what the alternatives are or who feel the only way that counts is their way and seek a government who only rules on their behalf, the rest of the country and world be damned That who do not march in lock step with them and should be beaten down and suppressed using what ever means they have, including violence.. To those who think that, all I can say is what goes around comes around, and the circle of violence only expands and accelerates until there are more and more victims in the grave on both sides. There are no happy endings in history as even the victors or the governments they espoused based on hate, violence, and suppression eventually fall victim to themselves, either in suicide in a bunker or hanged by those they once suppressed. That should be the lesson we learned from the last century of world wars and revolutions, from the rise of totalitarianism (dictatorial control over governmental power and culture) to Bosnia. It may take years for this to play out, but the old saw of "those who live with the sword, die with the sword" has some truth. Democracy's greatest asset is that it provides a plan and way for humans to pursue life, liberty, and happiness without violent conflict, instead.
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