<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1654721018604,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000162-07c3-d172-a563-4feb224a0001","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1654721018604,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000162-07c3-d172-a563-4feb224a0001","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_54721007", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1028420"} }); ","_id":"00000181-4506-d590-a5f1-c7b7ecf50000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedAs both sides of the political aisle have become more and more divided, hostility has increased.
Rather than agreeing to disagree, it is second nature for politicians to take to Twitter, using the ad hominem logical fallacy in which they personally attack their fellow colleagues, to make a point. Some go a step further, turning it into an act of physical harm.
Today, people have lost the ability to communicate properly and therefore resort to violence in an attempt to make a statement.
For example, Nicholas John Roske, from California, was arrested outside of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home in suburban Maryland at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday.
Protests have steadily increased at the justice’s house due to the leak of Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion on abortion. With many upset about the possible overturn of Roe v. Wade, things seemed to be escalating.
For Roske, he had enough and felt the need to take action to the extreme, which ultimately led to his arrest. Ironically, he was also upset about a recent mass shooting, even though he was armed. After he was taken into custody, he told police officers that “he came from California to kill a specific United States Supreme Court justice.”
He was later charged with “attempts to kidnap or murder, or threatens to assault, kidnap or murder.”
“I call on leaders in both parties in Washington to strongly condemn these actions in no uncertain terms,” Gov. Larry Hogan (R-MD) said in the statement. “It is vital to our constitutional system that the justices be able to carry out their duties without fear of violence against them and their families.”
This is one of countless stories in which a person has felt the need to express something or make a statement through disruptive and violent means.
To have this discussion alone in one of the freest and most diverse nations in the world should be shocking, but there are sadly more stories like this to come. Now, don’t misunderstand — one should be able to express freely. Civil discourse is inevitable, but threats of physical harm should not be considered. Unfortunately, nowadays, that is something one must consider.
This lack of communication stems from people not seeing the humanity in others. They view those who disagree as merely akin to a political party or position, rather than as human beings with family members and loved ones. Not only did the justice fear for his life, but his wife and daughters too.
In stepping into certain positions of leadership, one must accept the challenges that come with it. However, this level of fear for simply doing one’s job portrays how far America has veered from peace.
Anger now fuels many to action, rather than a passion for change with the intent of peace. Think before you act; it’s important. Take the arrest of Roske as a lesson of what not to do when disagreement arises and you want to take action. There are better alternatives to enact change than bringing attention to yourself behind bars.
Esther Wickham is a summer 2022 Washington Examiner fellow.
