By Kyle Roberts
On Saturday evening, a former president (and according to polls, likely the next) survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Former President Donald Trump was struck in the ear by at least one bullet, leaving a rally-goer dead as well as the shooter.
Seeing the words in that previous paragraph is beyond depressing and incredibly dark. Regardless of how you feel about Trump (or President Joe Biden), our national political temperature has boiled beyond the pale.
It’s a miracle that the former president survived Saturday. The outcome was just inches away from a generational tragedy, where everyone will remember where they were when they heard.
We do not have to be this way.
Thankfully, in the aftermath, both candidates for the most powerful office in the world said the right things Saturday night and Sunday.
President Biden: “I’m grateful to hear that (Trump’s) safe and doing well. I’m praying for him and his family and for all those who were at the rally, as we await further information. Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it.”
Trump on Truth Social: “We pray for the recovery of those who were wounded, and hold in our hearts the memory of the citizen who was so horribly killed. In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand United, and show our True Character as Americans, remaining Strong and Determined, and not allowing Evil to Win.”
Both intentionally used “United” as a theme, which is entirely counter to the rhetoric we are simultaneously inundated with and all to happy to consume. Politicians, social media, and corporate media have all been playing with a ticking nuclear bomb for too long, understanding that the “attention economy” we live in requires anger, hatred, vitriol and fear.
To give credit where it is due, both candidates could have put out statements that would have given them political points in the moment, and both chose not to. Of course, others did and given the complexities of the would-be assassin, both red and blue can claim that he was working for the other side. The flames and tensions are reaching critical mass.
But, again, we don’t have to be this way.
It’s necessary to say that we condemn political violence (I certainly do), but in order to quell it from happening again, we the people must taking steps to stop it.
I’d like to paraphrase something the Greatest Teacher of all-time said. I’ll substitute a some of the wording to make a point, which you’ll understand. It’s in Matthew 5 (ESV):
“And if a [conservative or liberal] would sue you and take your tunic, let them have your cloak, as well. And if a [Republican or Democrat] forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the [political opponent] who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, “You shall love [anyone who votes like you and hate those who don’t].” But I say to you, “Love [the other side] and pray for those who persecute you.”
I am thankful that Jesus said those words.
May we be more like Him as we approach November and listen to the One who commands us to love.
