The (Jeffersonville) News and Tribune (TNS)
Violence might never be completely abolished from our world, but the continued killings of our youth coupled with two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump should push us to ask some introspective questions as a nation.
Why are violent acts still so prevalent in our country?
How have we become so numb to the dozens of school shootings that occur every year?
What will our country look like in 25 years if this rash of violence continues?
What is happening that’s encouraging people to attack political officials?
How can we diminish violence as a whole in our nation?
The answers to those questions are complex and somewhat subjective. But we should all be able to agree that shooting at political candidates, killing children and glorifying violence aren’t qualities of a safe country.
Our rhetoric has gotten out of hand. The fevered us-vs.-them tone of our politics is polarizing and dangerous. We’re accepting too much hateful speech as a nation. Whether it’s a mob of people attacking our Capitol or a would-be assassin firing a bullet at a presidential candidate, we’ve witnessed historically troubling incidents of political violence in recent years.
Our attitudes toward those we disagree with have contributed to the divide. Those differences should be debated respectfully, but that’s no longer the popular path in our country. Instead, we belittle our perceived enemies with barbed social media posts and comments. What does that accomplish? It only furthers hate, and hate can lead to violence.
School shootings have become such a prevalent part of our society that they’re largely forgotten within a week or two. Earlier this month, a teenager shot and killed four of his classmates in a Georgia school. Since then, a rash of instances of students posting threats on social media have risen, some leading to arrests.
What can we do about it? We can start by being more aware of our own words and actions. We need to be more mindful of how we speak to one another, and what we post on social media. Guardians must be more wary of what children are absorbing and posting online and how they’re treating their peers at school.
Leadership matters. Elected officials, from the president down to our local city council members, must set better examples. They should speak to topics and work to find solutions. They should operate in truth and be peacemakers, not spoons stirring pots of hatred and discord. We’re already at the boiling point as a country. It’s time to turn down the flame.
We have an election within a matter of weeks, and the better part of a school year to complete. This country is strong and has survived tough challenges. But the toughest test might be whether we can survive each other. Violence isn’t the answer. We have to be accountable for our actions, and we must demand better from our leaders.
