Mod Note: I’m bending the "no politics’ rule to highlight a disgusting trend I’ve been seeing on Lemmy lately. Due to the sheer volume of comments fitting that trend and the huge number downvotes given to anyone who speaks out against it, I’m convinced this opinion is truly unpopular in the Lemmy-verse. This is also topical and important enough to merit discussion or at least to provide a point of reflection. So while it touches on politics, that’s merely the framing device of current events being used to highlight a larger problem.
As you’re inevitably downvoting this, at least take a good, long look in the mirror while you do so.
The sheer number of people here praising the shooter, advocating for, glorifying, or just flat out calling for violence has been a real eye opener and litmus test for the kind of people I’ve surrounded myself with on this platform. Suffice it to say, a lot of you have failed that test spectacularly.
A rational, independent thinker should be able to condemn this kind of violence even when it’s targeted towards their “enemies.” Political violence has absolutely NO PLACE in a healthy society, and no one should be praising or advocating for it. No one. Ever. This is one thing that, regardless of the paradox of tolerance, should be universally condemned.
There are, apparently, a ton of extremists here that don’t see themselves as such because they believe their extremism is justified and that they’re on the right side of history. Ironically, which is what all extremists think.
This goes back further than just yesterdays’s events. For example, it’s been a common refrain since the Supreme Court presidential immunity decision that, paraphrased, “The current non-dictator president should do dictator things to stop the other dictator”. Which is just another flavor of “Extremism is bad except when it’s my flavor of extremism”.
Don’t give me that “it’s just gallows humor”, “I’m oppressed, and he deserved it”, “if you had a time machine, wouldn’t you go back to 1934…”, “we haven’t been a healthy society for X years…”, or other excuses. This is a BFD with major implications and ramifications, and y’all Lemmings are treating like we just missed the exit ramp to Utopia and are trying to find a wide spot to make a U-turn.
It’s certainly fine to have no sympathy for the guy (I sure as hell don’t), but it’s another thing entirely to be cheering on, promoting, and/or advocating for extremist stances like those being thrown out lately.
You say you want a better society? Then act like it!
Moments like this are the true test of one’s character and intellectual honesty, and I’m beyond disappointed in so many of you.
Not looking a gift horse in the mouth is one thing. Praising the mysterious benefactor who dropped it off or asking for more gift horses or a better gift horse next time is crossing a line.
I’m not doing any of those things. I’m not asking for more violence or even condoning this last bout. I do think the world would have benefited from Trump’s death, but I would prefer in not come from the hand of a USA citizen. If his death comes from a politically motivated shooting, I’m not going to be upset, but I won’t go glorifying the shooter.
The post isn’t directed at any one person, and if you feel called out, that’s between you and your conscience alone. The post is directed at the general, lynch-mob mentality that’s running rampant.
–Agent K, Men in Black
That’s fair, but I don’t know that the mob mentality out there is as pro political assassination as you are letting on. I’d imagine the majority of people that are upset that the shooter missed have a similar outlook to me. For a moment, millions of people saw that headline and thought their prayers were answered, most just won’t say it out loud.
The potential disaster if Trump is elected could negatively affect not only millions in the US, but potentially countries all over the world. It’s cliche, but this could be a go back in time and kill Hitler situation. I’m not saying it is, but there is the potential. The legal systems, Congress, POTUS, et all have been failing citizens for years to hold corruption accountable. People are getting pissed off, and some are being pushed to the edge. It’s less about being politically motivated, more about future preservation to many of these people.
I’d say this is like the trolly problem, but this is easier. If rapist, felon, traitor Trump is laying on a set of tracks, and 1 million people on the other set. Now, the trolly might split the tracks and “only” take out some migrants build a new section, but the person behind the lever could make a decision that affects the outcome.
Regardless of the reasoning, justified feelings or not, the extreme rhetoric is just adding fuel to an already raging fire. I stand firm on that opinion.
I didn’t think that saying, “I (or anyone) am upset that Trump is still alive” is extreme rhetoric. I think saying, “someone should kill Trump” is. I haven’t been much of the latter. I also don’t believe that gallows humor about the former is extreme rhetoric either. I think that given the nature of the event, it just hits harder.