The Lesson from the Assassination Attempt on former President Trump: Start Listening, We are All Americans
There are several cultural, political, and civil lessons and realities in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Trump and the Iwo Jima-like photo of Trump’s fist raised in defiance while under fire that should be called out:
Yes, the shooting, the near miss, the iconic picture, and Trump’s own behavior point to an act of God – arguing about it, given these facts, seems pointless.
There is a message in the bullet striking Trump’s ear; as I hear the message, it is quite clear: our politics have become too loud.
Everyone needs to quiet down and start listening.
Also, if you sow division, the natural end result—especially among Americans—is that someone, somewhere, will act violently.
And it has to stop.
The lyrics of one song come to mind: Love Can Reign, written by Prince Imran Dionysus and performed by the Sufi rock band Sonic Astanga, with guitar by Slash of Guns ‘n Roses and drums by Matt Sorum also of Guns ‘n Roses, The Cult, and Velvet Revolver with Chuck Wright of Quiet Riot on bass:
The whole World
Seems to spin
On the whims
Of Politicians
The worst of them
Turn Religion
Into a Pylon
For Our Division
O False Leaders
Hate Filled Preachers
Mischief Makers …
Your Time Is Over
O Good Shepherds
Rise Together
Confront the Deceivers
Temper their Fever
The Blame Game
We Must Tame
So
Love Can Reign
Yesterday’s bullets were a warning for both parties, for President Biden and President Trump – tone down the division.
The finger-pointing, the yelling, the hatred, the refusal to see Americans opposite you on the political spectrum as fellow Americans and colleagues – go take your closest known associate, colleague, or friend who is not of your political stripe to dinner, break bread, and reach out.
Stop blaming the other side, we are all Americans.
Let’s say, God forbid, the bullet had been an inch to the right and Trump died.
Would it be any exaggeration to say that America would be on the verge of civil war, if not in an actual civil war as of yesterday afternoon – the crowd MAGA would have thought this was President Biden exercising his newfound immunity powers?
There were already videos on X.com of how one bystander had told police about the shooter before the shooting and waited three or four minutes for the police and Secret Service to act.
Instead, this assassination attempt is a warning for us all: end the division, end the politicians who are sewing discord and division.
It is time for Americans to collectively take a breath and tone it down, turn down the volume, bro.