Hello on Sunday morning,
As I read the coverage like millions of others around the world, the reality that we came millimeters from the killing of a former President and as well as the current likely nominee for their party’s current election, should be both frightening and seen for the outrageous truth it displays. Certainly, the loss of life of an individual attending the Butler, PA rally as well as the serious injury to two others is as tragic, and while we do not know their names, they are as important to their family and loved ones as our family members are to us.
It has been more than a half century since actual shots were fired at a President and now at a former President, but the shock should be as palpable as ever. While the Secret Service, and those close to former President Trump displayed incredible valor, does not reveal the number of foiled attempts on the President’s or the Vice President’s lives, there have been attempts on both Presidents and Vice President Harris. Let me state unequivocally, “There is no place for violence in our political process.” I believe the American propensity to use weapons, legal or otherwise, complicates our conversations, and I am not anti-Second Amendment, though reasonable limits make sense to me. Additionally, again I will say this as forcefully as possible. Conversation or comments from either side of the aisle that flame the fire of division at this moment are inappropriate. We have spent a lot of time and energy blaming the other side. As I have read comments today from around the world, there is a common thread that notes such an attempt on anyone’s life is abhorrent. Certainly, the requisite questions must be asked; most assuredly, if protocols were not managed, there should be accountable decisions made. Discovered lapses, which seems to be likely, must be remedied.
The arm-chair-quarterbacking, that does little more than blame, serves no one well. I have read everything I can find about the incident, and I am sure a family is stunned their son attempted this. I read about a 50 year old family person who died shielding his wife and daughters. This is tragic, and it requires some soul searching on both sides of our broken, two-party system. Our political apparatus has become a process focused on money and power. That is an entirely a separate issue, but I do believe it is connected. I also believe that the politics of our democracy have always been messy. From the duals that characterized our early Republic to the reality of slavery and the ensuing Civil War and Reconstruction, our national history iso rife with disparate actions and attitudes. The times of McCarthy or the Jim Crow attitudes that are still alive today all show we are fragile people, and that fragility has too often been demonstrated through an inappropriate expression of anger. I do realize these are some rather bold strokes across our almost 250 years as a country here, but what I am trying to say is dispute is nothing new. The words of John Wilkes Booth as he leaped from the Presidential box after shooting President Lincoln do not sound that strange in our current political atmosphere. And it is unfortunate to see that parallel. The parallels to 1968 have been raised yet another tragic level. The assassination of two political figures that year changed the course of our national history.
As someone who studies rhetoric and the power of words, it is time we collectively consider our language, our speech, and the way words are used. Two recent books, one titled Angry Public Rhetoric and the other A Crisis of Civility? Certainly the political atmosphere of our country, even before the weekend, has been fractured. The wounding of Rep. Steve Scalise or Rep. Gabbie Giffords are examples of our national discontent. The reality of the language on either side of the aisle has developed an aggregate tenor that demonizes the opposing side. Statements, which might have been innocuous at one point, now, seem more often than not, not only partisan but inflammatory. Is there a magic remedy? Certainly not, but instead it requires our entire nation, the collective populace, to understand the importance of the phrase amor patriae. The love of country is neither a merely misguided patriotism nor a more insidious nationalism. It is the belief that we are collaboratively more successful than individually. It is the stance that our cumulative synergy creates possibilities that singularly would never be achieved. Much of our political division is based on what the founders of our country struggled with from the outset: federalism versus states’ rights. Additionally, there is the basic concept of civility. Civility is connected to both how we act and how we speak (Laden, 2019). Furthermore, Dr. Laden, a professor of philosophy at the University of Illinois, asserts when considering civility in the political realm one considers the experience of the group and notes there is a disposition to cooperate. Aristotle called this civic virtue. Virtue has to do with the moral, the social and the intellectual as well as generally considered for the good of humanity.
Most mornings, as noted from time to time, I have coffee with a group of other men, and in the group of a dozen or so, I am probably the only Democrat. I tell them regularly I need to listen to them and ponder their statements, their positions. They force me to think, to reflect on our differences. And yet this morning, there was no disagreement that our public discourse is broken, not healthy. It was helpful to hear that both former President Trump, current President Biden, the current Speaker of the House Johnson, current Senate Majority Leader Schumer, and former First Lady Melania Trump all issued thoughtful statements about toning it down. In fact, the former First Lady’s statement was particularly well-stated. The fact that President Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office is of significance. What would be unprecedented would be a joint statement from both President Biden and former President Trump. I am not sure it could be managed, but think of what such a statement might do. Is it possible that such statement with sincerity and honesty from both might create a tremorous shift in our national atmosphere. Such a statement might truly exhibit the love of country that we need at present. Perhaps such a hope is a pipe dream, but dreams can become realities. Certainly releasing such a statement months before a national election would make it even more profound. Might it push both candidates to focus on the issues that plague the country versus the sort of personal vitriol that seems too characteristic of our daily conversations?
Along with all the questions that the weekend has created, I could not help this morning but to turn my thoughts to the family of the person who attempted to assassinate former-President Trump. This 20 year old had parents, perhaps grandparents, aunts, and uncles. What are they going through as they bury a son, grandson, nephew, who is now an infamous footnote in our history. There seems to be little indicating he was on such a violent way to end his life. Certainly, the consequences of Saturday will reverberate for years to come, and they should. Political violence is antithetical to democracy. That is not to say there is no passion; that is not to say there is not strident disagreement; and that is not to say democracy is not messy. However, much like with anything else, there need to be limits and boundaries. Limits and boundaries will be pushed, but they must be maintained. There is safety in the maintaining them. There is stability, and by extension, hope in their existence. I am glad that the former President escaped any serious harm in Saturday’s violence. I am praying that we might all step back from a precipice that could been irreparable. There will be two conventions this summer. There will be two candidates (regardless the opinions on both) nominated. I do hope we might depend on our better angels to serve us as we move forward. I pray we might understand love of country as a collective that is beyond what we have recently exhibited. I believe we are capable of so much better if as President Biden noted, we are neighbors, friends, and co-workers. Indeed, I am personally aware of losing people because of our different political views; it was, and is, hurtful and sad. I do not remember such strong discordant feelings and language earlier in my life because of who was elected, because of the views of a president or a former president. And yet, studies show this sort of struggle is part of our democracy. Lincoln, the first Republican President not only addressed this, he lost his life because of it. Regardless of the conspiracy theories, JFK, his brother, and MLK Jr. would lose their lives to assassins. The consequences of those losses are incalculable, and doubtful that we are better for it. Likewise, the loss of life through political violence seldom has any positive impact. Democracy is difficult, and civility seems even more so, but without our concerted efforts to work toward it, we are doomed to repeat the sort of horrendous events that happened this past week. I remember when this song first came out. It moved me to tears. Maybe it’s time to remember that loss creates tears. To the family of the fire chief in Butler, I am so profoundly sorry for your loss of your personal hero.
Thank you as always for reading.
Dr. Martin
thewritingprofessor55 