I'm discouraged to see people giving in to their base hatred over political violence. I was raised to forgive, not forget. I was told, "Don't be that which you hate," yet I see it happening everywhere these days. This hyperpolarized political atmosphere is robbing us all of our humanity. Lots of people are seemingly sacrificing their highest morals for the most basest forms of hatred.
Am I naive? Perhaps. Am I old school? Yes! I wasn't raised to repay barbarity with barbarity.
Violence can be necessary to protect the innocent from violence. But the non violent solution should always be our personal, group and national policy whenever possible.
But yes, irrational hatred, political ambition that in my opinion borders on evil and can be actual evil, stirring up the people against each other, encouraging them to assault each other, suggesting/promoting/encouraging violence for political gain should never be acceptable. I like to think metaphorically that there are especially unpleasant places in hell for those who do that.
And good people must continue to speak out against that. I personally can find little charity in my heart for those doing it.
At the same time I can accept anyone who changes their personal policies and behavior and chooses what is helpful, loving, compassionate, caring, useful, productive, edifying over hate, violence, hurtfulness, chaos. To accept those who give up evil for good is forgiveness.
We must continue to be a people governed by laws, not personal whims and impulses. And we can do that and not be people consumed by hate and/or violence.
Right, because he must want to kill himself.
