Instead Of Pleading For Peace And Unity, Trump Opts For More Violence

The 1960's and 70's were a turbulent and divisive time in the United States - and it resulted in far too much political violence. There were the assassinations of John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Robert Kennedy - and the attempted assassination of George Wallace. It also had the Kent State shootings and the Chicago police riots (at the Democratic convention). 

Sadly, we seem to have returned to a time of far too much political violence. Too many politicians (and others) have engaged in decisive and hateful rhetoric, and that has led to a continuing rash of political violence. The latest victim is right-winger Charlie Kirk, but their have been victims on both side of the political spectrum. It needs to stop!

As this nation's chief executive, Donald Trump had a golden opportunity to use his bully pulpit to plead for national unity and the toning down of hateful political rhetoric. But he chose to do just the opposite. He chose to heighten tensions by blaming his political enemies for the violence (while ignoring his own violent rhetoric and that of his supporters).

Instead of stopping the violence, his statements make it more likely that the violence will continue - that his supporters will retaliate to the Kirk killing with more killings. History will not be kind to him for this!