I will tell you that I am frustrated. Deeply frustrated with the tennis match of hypocrisy that exists in our country today. Starting from the President all the way down. It’s not a secret if you have ever spent time reading my words (thank you) that I am a left-leaning hippy. I have written deeply about the strange behavior of our public during COVID. I have written about third parties. Today, waking up to see yet another comedian late-night show host being muzzled, I question, Is this knee-jerk reactionism new to this country?
If you go back and read any book about politics or history, you will hopefully come away with the knowledge that this country has been through it. As has the world. Technically, we are all living longer and healthier lives. But are they happy lives?
According to the WHR (World Happiness Report) the United States was the 11th-happiest country in the world in 2011; we are now 28th. If I am lucky enough to have eyes from both sides of the political spectrum reading this right now, I would guess that all of you are trying to draw correlations. It was Obama’s fault, it was Trump’s. It’s social media. It’s AI. My answer to any of those is … maybe.
If you look at the last few months and jump to the conclusion that something is “different now”, you are partially correct. According to Reuters (one of the least biased sources of news), in 2023, there were about 200 more instances of political violence since Jan. 6, 2021. 200. So…take a breath, everyone. Is it a good thing? Of course not, but it is life in America. Almost from the beginning. In the 20th century, there were assassination attempts on over a third of presidents, two succeeding. In the 60s alone, we had horrific assassinations of political figures. The targets, then, were left-leaning figures.
This is not meant to say, well, Charlie Kirk deserved to be shot. Or, that it happened to “us”, so it’s okay that it happens to “you”. I abhor violence of all kinds. I don’t believe guns should exist. I don’t believe, in any case, that a life should be taken. What I’m saying here is that it’s no surprise. We, as a country, have demonstrated that political violence will happen. As it stands right now, with the advent of the Information Age, Social Media, and smartphones, we can be easily programmed and egged on. I am not excusing myself from being programmed either.
Let me reiterate, I hate guns, and I want them all gone, but I realize that, in this country, my dream is unrealistic. While I hate the quote, Charlie Kirk was right. If this country wants guns to stay legal, we must live with the realization that shootings will happen. To our kids, to our fellow citizens, and to political figures. Do I like this….Fuck no. I hate it. But the change I want will take a huge amount of sacrifice from everyone.
In the meantime, what I hope all of you will do is to realize that what is going on isn’t unique. I’m not saying sit on your hands and just accept it without letting your voice be heard. But let your voice be heard peacefully. It is not a coincidence that loud, bombastic voices are making things worse, not better. Be loving. Be smart. Be gentle. At the same time, be bold and let your voices be heard.
In the meantime, take a breath, and go put your feet in the grass.