Taking A Break

The events of yesterday — the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the resulting reactions from the left and right — have left me desirous once again of a life in which I am not so “connected” to the politics of America. So, I’m going to try to take a break from watching the news, reading political blogs, and writing here.

I am frustrated and disgusted. No matter how much distaste I have for Charlie Kirk’s politics, there is no place in the world I want to live in for him to be assassinated. There is also no place in that world where people I ally myself to should be celebrating his death or making jokes about what has happened to him.

We have lived through times like this before. I mentioned to my son the 1960’s — the assassinations of JFK, MLK, and RFK, as well as other lesser political figures; the riots; the burning and looting of cities across the country; the Vietnam War; so much division and destruction that decade and we managed to find our way out of it. I don’t have that hope for today’s America.

We are too divided, too siloed into separate camps, too willing to stay in echo chambers formed by technological tools that are making things worse instead of better. I don’t see how we get out of this, as the partisans continue to push us further and further apart, pointing fingers at each other, laying fault and blame, while never, ever taking accountability and responsibility for self and side.

It’s sickening how we have become a country filled with so many people who are willing to dance on the graves of the other side while ignoring the responsibility we all have to put an end to these things. From the right, we hear about violent left-wing rhetoric but we never hear any acknowledgement of our gun-obsessed society and the violent actions of the right. From the left, we hear about the hateful right-wing rhetoric but we never any acknowledgement of how left-wing policies contribute to some of our problems.

I’m done with the finger-pointing game. I’m done with the lack of accountability. I’m done with the complete inability of the partisans to engage in politics with humility and cooperation, instead of certainty of right and might. I’m just done with this madness.

I find it ironic that this shooting occurred the day before we acknowledge the events of 9/11/01 for the 24th time. The Today Show just did a story about the crew that keeps the 9/11 Memorial in NYC clean and looking good for those who come to pay their respects. The crew works nights, making sure the memorial is ready each and every day. They honor those who were lost and those who visit every day and speak about how the memorial is not just a place that pays homage to those who were lost but also is a place of hope.

9/11 was an event that could have brought our nation together. It should have. It did not. The national unity that occurred immediately after did not last for long. Instead, we went right back to our partisan war, and it has only worsened as the years roll by. Nothing seems to be capable of bringing us back to where we should be.

Recognition that we are all Americans.

Recognition that we all love our country.

Recognition that we all bleed the same blood and feel the same pain.

Recognition that we are all human beings and should be treated as such.

Recognition that we all can succeed for more if we work together instead of against each other.

See you at some point in the future. I’m not sure when I’ll be back here. Based on my track record, a lot sooner than I think. But … at the moment, instead of watching the news, I’m watching a cooking show.

9/11