On Wednesday, as most know, a man who belonged to multiple anti-Republican groups, including one called \u201cTerminate the Republican Party,\u201d opened fire on Republican lawmakers, who were practicing for a charity softball game.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start here. Let\u2019s start by omitting the words \u201cRepublican\u201d and \u201cDemocrat,\u201d for if any believe that only the Republicans or only the Democrats are contributing to the reckless rhetorical climate, than they \u2014 we<\/strong><\/em> \u2014 are more part of the problem than we think. What are we doing?<\/p>\n The Intramuralist believes we need to be clear in how we speak of this. It is not the rhetoric or a Facebook group or another association that is responsible for the violent acts; the people who choose the violent acts are the people responsible for the violent acts.<\/em> However, we are contributing to a climate which makes the violent acts more likely; we are feeding a culture that encourages the equating of ideological difference holders to enemies; sometimes our elected leaders have even referred to political others as the \u201cenemy.\u201d That is the basis for today\u2019s question. By definition, an \u201cenemy\u201d is seen as bad. Wrong. And sometimes even necessary to shoot and kill. We<\/strong><\/em> are contributing to an unhealthy, morally-digressing climate that encourages some to shoot and kill.<\/p>\n One of the things I appreciate after the resulting shock and pause of horrific events, is the positive use of \u201cwe\u201d\u2026 \u201cWe are all Americans\u201d after 9\/11\u2026 \u201cWe are Orlando\u201d after the Pulse night club shootings\u2026. And \u201cwe are all sons and daughters of God\u201d \u2014 a frequent, articulated truth that is perhaps the only \u201cwe,\u201d we actually always are. In the wake of tragedy, no less, we turn the \u201cme\u201d into a \u201cwe\u201d \u2014 focusing most on what we have in common. There is no assertion that the \u201cother\u201d is the \u201cenemy.\u201d<\/p>\n But with all due respect, save for in the wake of those horrific events, my sense is we currently, collectively stink at that. We stink at including others in our \u201cwe.\u201d We tend to focus most on what we don\u2019t<\/em> have in common, as opposed to what we do.<\/em> We pit our values, belief systems, identities, etc. against someone or something else. We pick teams, separate groups, and create intentional division. We utilize terms such as \u201cresistance,\u201d \u201cwar\u201d and \u201cdestroy\u201d \u2014 terms each partisan group takes turns embracing… sometimes shouting.<\/p>\n As former Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) said this week, \u201cAngry, divisive words are setting the stage for the unhinged to act out.\u201d The reality is that our leaders and \u201cwe\u201d are the ones using those angry, divisive words.<\/p>\n How many call now \u2014 or called before \u2014 for either Donald Trump or Barack Obama to be destroyed?<\/p>\n And how many justify it? \u2026 maybe, most likely, only for one?<\/p>\n Again, this week\u2019s shooter is responsible for this week\u2019s shooting. But we have created a climate in which a person lacking in wisdom or discernment feels like \u201cdestroy\u201d actually means \u201cto destroy.\u201d The softball field shooter went to do exactly that.<\/p>\n While there is nothing wrong with respectful, passionate opposition, we have been seduced as a society into believing that it\u2019s ok for policy attacks to become personal. We have been fooled into believing that another\u2019s policy differences equate that person with idiocy or evil.<\/p>\n And then we fight. Will we come together to recognize that we really are all Americans?<\/p>\n Will we stop this reckless rhetoric that encourages hate towards someone?<\/em><\/p>\n Will our leaders courageously lead, stopping the call to resist and destroy, even though the firm stance tends to rile up the people (and secure more future votes)?\u00a0<\/em>\u2028\u2028Will we stop attacking the person \u2014 especially, referring to them as the \u201cenemy\u201d?<\/p>\n And \u2014 perhaps the bottom line question for today \u2014 will we embrace wisdom first and foremost \u2014 or will we continue to be seduced into something lesser?<\/p>\n Back to Sen. Bayh\u2026 \u201cLet\u2019s hear more reconciliation in our political debate. Let\u2019s rethink our propensity to make every disagreement apocalyptic. Let\u2019s resist the temptation to infer the worst motives to our adversaries. In the end, the American values that unite us are much stronger than those tearing us apart. Let\u2019s remember that.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes\u2026 let\u2019s remember.<\/p>\n What are we doing, friends?<\/p>\n Respectfully\u2026 On Wednesday, as most know, a man who belonged to multiple anti-Republican groups, including one called \u201cTerminate the Republican Party,\u201d opened fire on Republican lawmakers, who were practicing for a charity softball game. Let\u2019s start here. Let\u2019s start by omitting the words \u201cRepublican\u201d and \u201cDemocrat,\u201d for if any believe that only the Republicans or only … <\/p>\n
\nThe man at the softball field went to fight.<\/p>\n
\nAR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"