While we watched the news of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump with shock, sadness and anger to learn of this kind of political violence again in our country, some of us were not surprised to witness history repeating itself in American politics. Consider the 1963 assassination of President John Kennedy and the assassinations of U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, as well as the attempt on President Ronald Regan in 1981, all stark reminders of trauma in our society.
The United States emerged as a model republic of economic and political power with strong democratic values post-World War ll. It has played a pivotal role in shaping global events on political, cultural and economic levels by promoting democracy and good governance around the world. At home, our political leaders in the House and Senate dealt with their differences with civility and reached a political consensus based on the demands of their constituents and national interests.
Unfortunately, in the past few years, our great system has become stuck in a gridlock of tribal politics, threatening the very essence of our values of democracy, respect for diversity of opinions and tolerance. Our two tribes in the House and Senate have lost their ability to listen to each other, reconcile their differences and reach political consensus that would best serve American’s best interests. Even in tribal societies, the decision-makers listen to each other.
Peace is the absence of violence of all forms. Sadly, we are witnessing violence on the streets with guns and clashes among our elected leaders that pose a great threat to our democracy. The politics of dissonance and division have adversely affected people’s perceptions. This kind of mentality promotes hate and a culture of political violence.
It is time for reconciliation in the United States. Our political conflicts require resolution while the trauma of our political violence needs reconciliation. Reconciliation is an act of compassion, truth, acceptance, forgiveness and justice.
The burden is upon our political leaders in the House and Senate to acknowledge and accept responsibility for the mistakes of the past and adopt a new philosophy of reconciliation.
— Matin Royeen, Chicago
Condemning political violence
I make no excuses for my feelings — there is nothing about Donald Trump that I like. But even I was horrified to learn of an assassination attempt on his life. No one should be seeking to harm anyone for his or her political views or party affiliations.
The outpouring of sympathy and well wishes for Trump shows that a grain of civility still exists in the American people. However, I would remind everyone that the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was just as horrific as what happened to Trump. Everyone, from both political parties, should have denounced it, and some did. But once Trump started to seek Republican support, people including members of Congress quickly forgot that the Capitol violence was appalling and unacceptable. Many continue to deny this sad fact.
Let this be a lesson to everyone. The winds of political change should not dictate when someone condemns violence; it must be done forcefully and consistently, all the time.
— Dianne Casuto, Lake Forest
‘Threat to democracy’ rhetoric
In a New York Times article published Monday in the Tribune (“Shooting shakes both campaigns”), Shane Goldmacher points out that a talking point of the Democrats for this election has been that “Trump’s return to the White House would be an existential threat to the nation.”
There is a big difference between “my opponent is old and has poor policies” and “my opponent is a threat to democracy.” If a person was indeed a “threat to democracy,” there would be a moral imperative to remove that person. That statement is an incitement to violence.
Thankfully, the vast majority of voters and citizens don’t believe the rhetoric. Tell us what policies are going to make America better again.
— Joe O’Donnell, Tinley Park
How to keep candidates safe?
Let us all be grateful that former President Donald Trump has survived an assassination attempt. It was frightening and disturbing to watch a heinous act of political violence live on television. My thoughts and prayers go out to Trump and his family.
Though the question is this: What more can be done to keep political candidates safe when they are out among large crowds? Even if they wear a bulletproof vest, their head is vulnerable. But in the meantime, by the grace of God, Trump is alive.
— JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater, Florida
Consequences of shooting
I was going to say I was glad Donald Trump wasn’t seriously injured or killed, but Republicans were already claiming the attempted assassination makes Trump president. The U.S. has about 335 million people and more guns than people. What the shooting really does is make the lives of Democrats and Republicans running for office and the lives of their supporters going door to door much more dangerous.
Bragging that a shooting guarantees a victory makes things far, far worse.
— Len Robertson, St. Charles
Inevitable result of hatred
In 2016, Donald J. Trump was the natural result of the left’s highly politically correct and anti-America rhetoric. It turns out that if you demonize the people you disagree with, paint them as racists and oppressors, and tell them that any and all of their successes are a result of some unearned privilege, they will create a counterrevolution.
Trump was the consequence of their actions, their rhetoric and the identity politics they brought into the American political landscape.
For the last few years, we have heard that Trump is a rapist when he has never been convicted of that, that he is Hitler, that our democracy is at stake.
Their Trump derangement has led us to this place.
— Charles Michael Sitero, Ormond Beach, Florida
Ex-president fanned flames
The former president set fires all over the country and the world for four years, continued to feed them for the next three, and when he gets singed, he blames the people trying to put out his fires.
The hypocrisy is sounding loudly, but a cowed society muffles the bell.
— Zenat Vakili, Naperville
Use drones for surveillance
Why hasn’t the government employed the use of drones, especially for open-air outdoor events?
— Nancy Frugoli, Park Ridge
How we can restore civility
The power to restore civility to U.S. politics lies squarely with “we the people.” Only three steps are necessary:
1. Make it crystal clear to the members of your own party that inflammatory language is unacceptable.
2. Demand that your party cross the aisle.
3. Vote out anyone who does not see steps 1 and 2 as imperative.
— Sara F. Shacter, Chicago
Deny Trump reelection
One can condemn the assassination attempt on Donald Trump and yet understand that this does not change who he is. This is still the man who tried to overthrow the government, who repeatedly has used hateful rhetoric toward those he disagrees with and who has no morals except what promotes and profits him.
Trump still is a real danger to the future of democracy in this country. This will all be on full display this week at the Republican National Convention as we will see cultlike worship of Trump.
If we want democracy to survive, we need to turn out in November to deny Trump another chance at destroying this country.
— Peter Felitti, Chicago
Glorifying 2nd Amendment
I wonder how the chaos at Donald Trump’s Pennsylvania rally will be spun by the Republicans.
“Guns don’t shoot people — people do.”
“It’s a mental health problem.”
“What a courageous Superman, heroically wounded!”
Maybe a few people will start questioning the glorification and sanctification of the Second Amendment.
— Susan Haley, Oak Brook
Issuing thoughtful statement
If Donald Trump had a fiber of statesmanship in his body, he would have already issued this statement:
“The gunman was obviously trying to kill me at my rally. Instead, he just grazed my ear and killed one of my supporters and seriously wounded some others. I wish that bullet had not hit any of my supporters there! My ear will be fine pretty soon. The families of my dead and wounded supporters will have a lot more trouble. I extend my deepest condolences to all these families. My staff will reach out to these families Monday, so I can talk with them and offer them all the help they might need to heal from this horrible, horrible tragedy.”
— Jean SmilingCoyote, Chicago
Our nation’s reputation
I don’t know what is the least surprising, the fact that a gunman took shots at Donald Trump — a man who has spewed hatred for the past decade — or the fact that there’s been yet another random shooting in this country.
Either way, it’s a sad commentary on what was once hailed as the greatest democracy on earth and a beacon of light to all those lost souls who live under tyrannical rule.
Rather than leading by example, we’re now gaining a reputation for being uncivil, as well as hypocritical. Is it any wonder that guns are replacing public debate, and bullets are seen as the ultimate problem solver?
— Bob Ory, Elgin
The issue of gun violence
I woke up at 7 on Monday morning and turned on the news: They have recovered the shooter’s rifle and cellphone, but they are still searching for the motive.
Our political leaders and the media have been decrying political violence and urging everyone to lower the temperature of political rhetoric. Great idea. But what if this assassination attempt, which killed one and injured at least two others, was not politically motivated? What if it was not political violence any more than school shootings are “education violence”? What if it was simply gun violence?
There will be endless analysis of how the shooter could have been stopped. We are hearing commentary about whether the head of the Secret Service should be fired and questions about how a man with a gun gained access to a rooftop with a sight line to the rally podium. I hope at some point in the discussion it will be noted that if he had not been able to get his hands on that assault-style rifle, he would have been stopped.
— Sharon Stratton, Warrenville
America divided as a nation
President Joe Biden continues doing what a real president should do. Reaching out to his predecessor following a very unfortunate assassination attempt is additional proof. Despite remembering Jan. 6, 2021, Biden is still providing protection for the 45th president. We can’t forget the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. We can’t forget the unfortunate assassination attempt on Trump, either.
America is divided as a nation. There isn’t any denying it. If we acknowledge God as a society, we will be united again. If we acknowledge God, politics will work in America again.
It is very important that our opponents and proponents are safe from all forms of violence.
— Shane Nodurft, Chicago
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