Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Editor, Times-Union:
In response to the shooting of Charlie Kirk, President Trump attempted to put the blame on those who oppose him: “It's long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible.”
It would be easy to comment at length on the stunning example of projection reflected in these remarks, but more important is how inappropriate they are for this moment in time. They serve only to fan the flames and to encourage more violence. It's just another example of politicians trying to gain by dividing us.
Since we can't look to our leaders for guidance, it's up to us as individuals to take the lead. We have the power to end the violence and division, and we can do this if we protest, knock and talk. The antithesis of violence is peaceful protest. It's what many responsible people were trying to do at the Charlie Kirk event when the gunman committed his heinous act. Through peaceful protest, rather than violence and intimidation, we make our collective voices heard.
In the words of Ghandi: "Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.”
Knocking and talking are what we can do in our own neighborhoods to end the division. In my neighborhood there are big political differences at election time, but in the intervening time we knock on each other's doors to deliver fresh-baked cookies and garden vegetables. We mow each other's lawns, and attend our neighbor's yard sales. We talk about our families and our daily lives. These are interactions and acts of kindness the algorithms will never capture, and they will always be the interactions that make the biggest impact. In a time when we can't look to our leaders to heal divisions and bring the nation together, it's up to us as individuals to be the change.
Robert Osbun
Leesburg, via email
