For the Greater Good

At times, society must witness terrible events to awaken and pave the way for positive change. This was evident on July 13, 2024, during the assassination attempt on a former U.S. president. Although the attempt failed, it resulted in casualties. While it’s too early to speculate on many aspects, it’s not premature to infer that such a horrific event was inevitable given the toxic political and cultural environment that has long been a part of the United States. Some argue that this is the price of living in a democracy. But does it have to be?

In the opening of this piece, I mentioned that society’s awakening allows for the emergence of good. However, it’s more than just acknowledging that terrible events have occurred. That’s the easy part. Some people fail to recognize the severity of these incidents. Some will always endorse and incite violence, while others will do so only against their perceived enemies. This only fuels more violence, deepens divisions, and weakens our nation. Most concerning of all, it leaves everyone vulnerable to social and moral decay.

The straightforward solution to halt this downward spiral is to open our eyes and acknowledge that the cost is too high. We cannot endure another Civil War. We must not let any political party, whose platform threatens our rights and freedoms, prevail.

We must remember the founding principles of this country, find a way to compromise, and return to living together in moral harmony. If we fail to do so, we are already lost.