Assassination vs. Democracy
WE HAVE JUST heard the shocking news of the assassination attempt of former President Trump. Words fail us.
Assassination is the antithesis of democracy. No, the antithesis of humanity. This was unfortunately not an isolated act of political or of any violence in our country. We simply cannot go on this way. Here are our prescriptions:
In the short term, don’t waste time with the details, fascinating as they may be, surrounding this particular incident 𑁋 the caliber of the weapon, the efficiency of the Secret Service 𑁋 even the “motive” of the shooter, who in any case is no more. With this plague of ours the devil is not in the details; it’s in the looming fact of violence. We have allowed our culture to become violent, and we have to reverse that. How?
There is no question 𑁋it’s an established fact of science and a loud message of common sense 𑁋 that advertising violence as we do, as we have done now for decades, in public media reduces people’s sensitivity to the value of life (a tragedy to the human spirit even before any physical violence breaks out) and facilitates violence. I am referring here in the first instance to outright violence as “entertainment,” which could have been stopped before social media put most entertainment beyond the reach of any one agency’s control. Now what we can do is (1) educate children and young people on the harmful effects of violent imagery, and (2) offer them an alternative. Human beings do acts of kindness and generosity every minute of the day; raise them up as the normal 𑁋 and normalizing record of daily events (“news”) and the longer record of past ones (“history”).
4 Dead In Family Massacre, Toddler In Critical Condition; Arrest: PD
Man Arrested Following Rape Of Incapacitated Woman: Police
Jewelry Store Hit By Armed Robbers; Nearly $500,000 In Jewelry Taken: Police.
These are the headlines we just pulled at random from a local news report. Is that really all that happened today in our town??
To be sure, there are a few ‘good news’ services doing a great deal of good in small, specialized circles of discriminating consumers. Somehow this tail has got to end up wagging the dog.
In the longer term, rethink the use of ‘formal’ violence as a mode of reducing crime. We don’t have to do that anymore. The techniques of Restorative Justice are again, well developed but slightly used. That is, slightly used here: in countries like New Zealand and Finland they’ve become the norm. And they succeed far better than the recriminative mode at reducing crime.
Time is of the essence here so I will not take the logical step and begin talking about national security. But peace research is a new and highly productive science. Anyone can explore it.
Mentioning science brings up also the marvelous shift taking place across the board of the physical and life sciences away from the Darwinian-Freudian legacy of “innate violence” to a healthier vision of human nature and destiny. Once again, a mere beginning that must be recognized and developed.
These are entries for any and all of us to build a better, safer, world.
Metta Center for Nonviolence
July 13, 2024
