Political violence is not just a US problem
Tánaiste Simon Harris has had threats made against his family in recent weeks.
When you see and hear the news that Charlie Kirk, a Trump supporter and advocate of free speech (mostly his free speech!) has been shot and killed by a lone shooter at a University campus in Utah you begin to think that America is a dangerously sick society. But, we should be slow enough to pass judgement. We have our own problems.
Now I have to admit that I was unaware of the existence of Mr Kirk until the news came through of his shooting and subsequent death. However it is now clear that he was a rising force in the Republican Party, having played a prominent role in the conversion of young Americans to the Trump cause during the past election. When he was shot, he was on the first stage of a crusade across the US to convert young people to his argument that his right wing politics was the future and the way to that future was through debate and discussion. By all accounts he was against violence as a means of achieving his aims. But there was violence in his use of words.
He clearly saw himself as part of that future and a possible Republican candidate in a future Presidential election. But the lone shooter had other ideas and, in a country where the right to carry guns is as important (constitutionally) as the right to free speech it was a simple matter for the gunman to acquire a suitable weapon and end the life of the man advocating the freedom to express contrary ideas.
The parallels between Kirk and former President Kennedy were clear to see. Both privileged, both capable, both ambitious, both handsome, both exemplars of the US dream, both family men, both assassinated. Only their politics differed.
Kirk’s assassination was rightly condemned by every right thinking person in the US and across the world but US politics being the partisan and divisive disease that it is, particularly at this time, failed to take the opportunity to show sense and seek healing. Mr Trump’s first reaction was to point the finger of blame at the Democratic left wing liberals. He couldn’t resist the opportunity and that bitterness found its way into the institutions of democracy on Capitol Hill where there followed some unsightly scenes and shameful commentary.
Mr Trump did tone down the rhetoric later, probably at the behest of more sensible people in his circle of advisers, but the message had gone out to the MAGA people: the Democrats are to blame. That type of message has resulted in the deaths of Democratic politicians in the recent past and assaults on the partners of democratic politicians.
The message has probably played a role in gun attacks on schools and churches. Vitriolic words, even if uttered with tongue in cheek, are processed sensibly by most people but there are those out there who take the remarks as an incitement to take action and, in the US, action very often includes the use of guns.
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, we have our own problems. Perhaps not on the same scale as the US but, then again, relative to our population we are in no position to pass judgement. We now have a murder (or sometimes two/three) every week here and little notice is taken. Politicians might wring their hands and sympathise with the bereaved but that’s it.
There is no follow up, no action taken to see how society might be changed so that murders occur less often, that late night assaults, often resulting in death, might become less frequent. We have taken action against drunk driving (without eradicating the problem) but we seem to be incapable of action on late night drinking and the inevitable consequences of rows and, in tragic cases, deaths.
And it is not all simply alcohol. In recent times the alcohol is boosted by drugs with horrific consequences. Drugs we were told were the preserve of the disadvantaged who were being brought to addiction by the drugs lords. That is no longer the case. If a person has money to spend there are people who will, can and do supply drugs. So-called middle class and respectable people are now in the market for drugs. Even our politicians think it is OK to admit that they have taken drugs (in the past, of course!).
The problem with our liberal society is that there’s nobody to cry halt. The church enjoyed the role in the past but nowadays there is no condemnation of societal misdemeanours from the pulpit. The reality is there are no, or very few, pulpits and no one, in our multi-cultural, liberal and to a large degree unlicensed society takes any heed in any event. Once upon a time when the Gardaí were respected and supported by society they could intervene and utter a word of caution. Nowadays, the boot is on the other foot. It is the public and errant miscreants who caution the Gardaí to be careful or they will be up on disciplinary charges.
Perhaps we have a distance to go yet to catch up with the US when it comes to taking violent action against the political classes here. But we are in no position to be complacent. There is anecdotal evidence that many of our politicians, including councillors, have been subject to threats, mostly online but also in person. Much of the online stuff should be taken with a pinch of salt but we have instances of abuse and threats that are more serious. The threats against Simon Harris and his family are in that serious category. He has rightly brought his complaint to the Gardaí and there is an investigation ongoing.
It would be interesting to see a few cases of these online threats brought before the courts. I would hazard a guess that the court, while it might utter words of condemnation, would refrain from imposing a penalty to fit the crime. Or indeed, if the court imposed a penalty it would be appealed by some overpaid lawyer, paid for by the taxpayer, who would succeed in having the penalty reduced or even thrown out by a superior court.
Our green and welcoming Emerald Isle is pretty much a thing of the past. The green is fading fast as we continue to exist as if climate change was not happening. We all agree with the need to do something but not at the expense of our own personal comfort. The “welcoming” part is also becoming much frayed at the edges. In the recent past we’ve had a number of instances of assaults on innocent visitors going about their holiday experience. I’m not hearing of their assailants being brought to justice.
People who prop up our health services or who provide expertise in our technology industries are being attacked in our capital city simply because of the colour of their skin. It is pure and simple racism. There are people with a political agenda who incite people to violence. These people can be traced. They should be brought before the courts, but we prefer to play about with regulation of the social media platforms. Sure, social media platforms should be brought to heel but not to the exclusion of chasing down the bigots and racists who use the platforms.
- William Butler Yeats
