From: Cole Bennett
Columbus
It has been four years since a violent mob attacked our nation’s Capitol building, resulting in the death of four, untold damage to historic relics, and irreparable damage to our intolerance for political violence.
Jan. 6, 2021 seemed like any other day to me. I was working as a nursing assistant in a busy ER in a northwestern suburb of Chicago. The whole country was still reeling from COVID and I was just about to start nursing school. Needless to say, politics was the last thing on my mind.
Then, about mid-day, I looked up at the TV in a patient’s room. I, at first, thought it was a movie. When I saw the shocked look on a nurse’s face, I knew it was no joke. Then I was frustrated. How could people be this up in arms over something as trivial as politics – especially in America? Here I was, caring for those in need during a global crisis, and these protestors were acting like absolute fools.
Four years later, it’s as if the fools’ mentality is celebrated.
Take the murder of Brian Thompson, the late CEO of UnitedHealthcare. Excuses made for his murderer’s actions have permeated the national conversation. The Left’s obsession with its “oppressor vs. oppressed” mantra has resulted in the celebration of Thompson’s death. As a nurse, I have my own concerns about the insurance industry – but I have enough sense to know that murder is never justified.
President-elect Trump has now had two attempts made at his life. The first, in July of this past year, caught the whole world by surprise. While assassinations have taken place in our country’s history, I can’t even begin to imagine how much deeper our divisions would have become had either attempt been successful. The online discussion that celebrated those attempts are disgusting.
Bartholomew County has had its share of politically-motivated threats. Take the recent school board race, where school board candidates and members were threatened either for their views or their votes on agenda items.
We settle our disagreements at the ballot box and the public square. That much I learned in school during an elementary history lesson. Regardless of your political affiliation, we are all Americans. Jan. 6 should serve as a reminder of what happens when we forget that.
Now, it’s easy to look away and say, “Well, that’s just politics.” And honestly, I wouldn’t blame you. Our 24-hour news media floods our feeds with news that can make anybody think that our country is ready to crumble on any given day. But, I refuse to accept that “It’s just politics.” You shouldn’t accept it either.
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