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Count us among the people calling for a cooling of our political rhetoric. We’ve written numerous editorials over the years decrying divisive and threatening rhetoric. We’ve decried political violence.
As Gov. Janet Mills said recently we must “learn to disagree better.” As Rep. Nathan Wadsworth, a Republican from Hiram, said last week: we must reclaim “the ability to disagree without hate and to listen with respect even when our views differ.”
Such sentiments gained urgency after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk earlier this month. Many of Kirk’s views were divisive and demeaning. But, he of course, had the right to share them and in no realm is his murder defensible.
At the same time, Kirk’s critics, including comedians, have a right to share their perspectives and to explain why they think Kirk was wrong and should not be lionized.
Such bipartisan calls for respect and compassion are, of course, spot on. But, they become meaningless when our president, who should be a moral compass and voice of reason for our country and the world, drowns them out with his own vile talk.
During a very long speech at Sunday’s memorial rally for Kirk in Arizona, an event that should have been marked by reflection and inspiration, President Donald Trump instead chose anger, recriminations and insults. He couldn’t even internalize the lessons he lauded Kirk for.
“He did not hate his opponents,” Trump said of Kirk. “He wanted the best for them.”
“That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them,” he said.
The day before, Trump also chose insults and cruelty.
During a speech at the American Cornerstone Institute dinner on Saturday, Trump was vile and heartless to his predecessor Joe Biden, who has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
“You know, Biden was always a mean guy, but never a smart guy. You know, even you go back 30 years ago, 40 years ago, he’s a stupid guy, but he was always a mean son of a bitch, you know?” Trump said “How’s it working? Not, not working too well for him right now, as that says. So when you start feeling sorry for him, remember, he was a bad guy.”
How can we, as a nation, debate our differences without hate, reach out to one another, “disagree better” when our president can’t even show empathy and compassion for a former president, a fellow human being? When he can’t even, for one day, one moment, not spew hatred and division?
Trump, as the leader of our country, and the Republican Party, sets a standard. That standard is dangerously low.
We realize that Trump, at this stage in his life, is not going to change his rhetoric or his behavior. He will continue to use his bully pulpit to, well, bully.
But, when his allies and those in his party tell others to stop using violent rhetoric, to stop demeaning those they disagree with, they must know that those exhortations ring pretty hollow when Trump does the opposite every day. Even at a memorial service.
There are countless examples every day of people quietly putting aside their differences to help and support one another. We choose to raise up these caregivers, rescuers, helpers, neighbors and humble Americans as people and voices to emulate.
