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On Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 6:12 PM, a twenty-year-old Pennsylvania resident climbed onto the roof of a small factory in Butler, PA, with a semi-automatic rifle. He aimed and pulled the trigger. The bullet missed its intended target by a mere quarter-inch. This was the attempted assassination of the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. At the time, he was a candidate vying for the Republican Party’s nomination. As of now, he has survived the attempt on his life and secured the Republican nomination. Today, the Republican National Convention began in Milwaukee, WI, with speakers rallying to inspire both the massive crowd and the American people.
But the story isn’t just about the present political landscape. It’s about the underlying currents that motivated that young man to pull the trigger. This act of violence was inspired by the very people seeking our votes, those who aim to represent us in Washington, D.C. They spurred him on with the most destructive tool in their arsenal: rhetoric. The weaponization of words—name-calling, hyperbolic statements, and fear-mongering—needs to cease.
In my career as a television producer, particularly of reality shows, I’ve seen the power of words and conflict firsthand. We often cast people with opposing personalities and ideologies in a house together to see what drama unfolds. We’ve done some ethically questionable things for the sake of entertainment, but even we couldn’t dream up the vitriol exchanged by both the Democratic and Republican parties in recent years.
President Trump is often criticized for his unfiltered speech, while President Biden has faced backlash for scripted statements laced with negativity. For six years, Democrats have labeled Trump as an “existential threat” to democracy, likening his policies to those of the Nazis. In retaliation, Republicans have disparaged Biden as an old man asleep at the wheel. This name-calling and lack of restraint are far cries from the political discourse of the past, where leaders exercised common sense and civility.
The constant barrage of hostile rhetoric from both sides, amplified by media outlets like MSNBC, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and even PBS, has fueled a climate of hatred and division. Each hateful word, each call to arms, resonates with someone. In this case, it was a twenty-year-old who internalized these messages and acted upon them. The media’s role in echoing these inflammatory statements cannot be overlooked.
The consequences of this rhetoric are profound. The attempted assassination of Donald Trump is not just an isolated incident; it’s a symptom of a much larger problem. The young man who climbed that roof was in the throes of a severe mental health crisis, spurred on by the toxic political climate. His actions serve as a grim reminder of what happens when we let hate and extremism go unchecked.
To prevent further violence, we must stop the rhetoric that fans the flames of hatred, anti-Semitism, and division. We need to cool down the national dialogue and engage in more civil, constructive conversations. The fear is that this young man’s actions are just the beginning and that others, perhaps even more vulnerable, might follow suit. We must consider the impact of our words on those who are listening, especially the young and impressionable.
It’s time for our political leaders to champion honesty, transparency, and healthy debate. We must model positive behavior for the next generation, teaching them the value of civil discourse over incendiary rhetoric. When I went to bed last Saturday night, I feared waking up to the dawn of a second civil war, a fear that feels increasingly plausible. Our leaders and those who aspire to serve must strive to end the cycle of hate and rhetoric.
We must prioritize constructive dialogue, setting an example for children and young adults. It’s imperative to stop repeating hate-filled rhetoric for the sake of attention or validation. The stakes are too high. If we don’t, the worst-case scenario we can imagine will be surpassed by reality, leaving future generations to handle the aftermath.
In conclusion, the events of July 13th should serve as a wake-up call. We are at a crossroads, where the choice is between continuing down a path of destructive rhetoric or striving for a more civil, respectful discourse. It’s time to choose the latter, for the sake of our democracy and the well-being of future generations.
Let us end the rhetoric and foster an environment where healthy debate and positive discourse can thrive.
