It comes as no surprise that sometimes tragedies bring out the worst in us. Take for example the attempt on Trump's life this weekend. It is impossible to ignore the event, yet for many it is too tempting not to capitalize on the crisis. Both sides of the spectrum have their spin, but come Monday everyone will head to work and life will go on as normal.
When a 20 year old civilian from the Midwest can reach out and touch one of the most powerful and highly protected people on the planet, how should we all respond? It should be shocking, not politized. We should recognize the vulnerability of human life, and we should morn the loss of the innocent bystanders, but we certainly should not celebrate this inexcusable act.
We are so used to division in our nation that it seems appropriate take sides over this. What we should ask is why would anyone feel so much hatred and feel so powerless that they could stoop to a cowardly attack like this? We as humans do this because violence comes natural and it is easy.
We have since the time of Cain and Able resorted to violence to solve our problems, it seems like violence is always the answer to our problems. Look at road rage, bar brawls, or any altercation, it is the lazy to handle your problems, it takes very little skill or knowledge or effort.
Mankind takes the path of least resistance, so violence comes as no surprise. Solving our differences and resolving our conflict takes effort and creativity. Most people have little energy or creativity when it comes to resolving their differences.
It is always easier to demonize your adversary than it is to listen to what they really have to say. It is easier to bicker with your rivals and defend your position than it is to try to understand or consider the validity of your opponent. Until we value other people more than we treasure being right, we will argue, and arguing eventually escalates, sometimes even to extreme measures.
The problem isn't the violence, that is a symptom of the problem. More so is the fact that we are ignoring our inability to unite despite our differences. We have lost our ability to disagree without being angry. We have forgotten the art of public discourse and civil debate. We have become a combative and argumentative society. Until, if it is even possible to, until we learn how to settle our differences, we will always resort to violence in our efforts to settle the score.
