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I consider the recent attempt on the life of former President Trump to be a tragic and saddening event. My immediate reaction to the news was to pray for him, the other victims, those close to them, and his supporters. I thank God the ex-President's injuries were no worse than they were. The horrific incident has shaken us all. Such acts of violence have no place in a civilized society. The impact of such incidents goes far beyond the immediate victims. The attempted assassination affects the fabric of our democracy and instills fear and uncertainty in the hearts of citizens. This murderous assault on our former president can easily deepen our divisions and animosities if, without evidence, we succumb to the temptation of blaming groups of others, especially our political opponents, for the violence of one possibly isolated, apparently troubled individual. The proliferating unfounded conspiraciy theories do nothing but provoke anger.
In light of this distressing event, I think we all need to emphasize that each of us has to strive anew to maintain peace and civility in our political discourse. Who among us cannot improve in this respect when we compare ourselves, for example, to the standard in the famous Prayer of Saint Francis? Certainly not I.
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
And the second stanza of the prayer is even more demanding. As I see things, we can't like everybody. And, though it is hard to believe, not everybody likes us. Still, we all can love everybody. Sure, it's easier to love those we like, but it is possible to love those we don't. There are people whose words, actions and positions that just turn us off. We can love them too. In fact, I believe loving the people we don't like is the unique challenge of peaceful human co-existence. The secret to this piece of relational JiuJitsu is to never wish harm to and always wish the best for those whom, despite our best efforts, we find unlikable. "Dislike" is the opposite of "like;" "hate is the opposite of "love." We don't have to hate what we don't like. We can and often say: "Have a good day" and not "God d…you" to everyone every day: those we like and those we don't like. The trick is to try to make this "fare-well expression" genuine and the dominant attitude by which we live our lives.
While political differences are inevitable in any democratic society, resorting to violence as a means of expressing dissent is never justified. It is my fervent hope that this repugnant incident does not serve as a catalyst for further acts of copycat aggression or retaliation. I pray this assassination attempt intensifies the desire for peace and does not stoke further violence from any side. We can't eradicate the past. We can shape the future.
At the same time, I think it is also important not to allow such acts of violence to silence or hinder the open exchange of ideas and opinions that form the foundation of our democratic system. Meaningful dialogue, respectful debate, and constructive engagement are essential components of a healthy democracy. I think we must continue to engage in discussions on contentious policies and other legitimate differences. I hope we all renew our efforts at discussing these subjects with civility and empathy, and at finding common ground despite our differences.
I commit myself to praying for the end of violence and for the well-being of those who have suffered from violence. I will try to be more careful in ensuring that my own discussions focus exclusively and accurately on an evidence-based understanding of the words, actions and policies of candidates whose positions I support and oppose. I ask others to join me in that pledge. To paraphrase a statement Coretta King once made; "Violence always perpetuates an unending cycle of anger, fear and hatred."
I like to think most Americans of all political persuasions do not want our country to descend to the abysmal depth of that kind of national life.
Tim Mannello is a retired hospital system executive and business consultant.