Political Violence

In the wake of the July assassination attempt against Donald Trump, I was amazed by the number of statements from public figures along the lines of "this isn't who we are." It's as though they'd completely memory-holed giant swaths of American history. To give you a sample:

• If the institution of slavery wasn't political violence, I don't know what is. Kidnapping free people, forcing them into servitude, making them property, forcibly breaking up families, committing rape, beating them, and abusing them in so many other ways, all on account of their skin color.
• If driving the Native Americans from their lands wasn't political violence, I don't know what is.
• Four U.S. presidents have been assassinated.
• There have been numerous assassination attempts that different presidents survived.
• Here's a handy list of all successful assassinations of American politicians, including presidents.
• Racial violence: there has been lots.

Apparently someone shot at Trump again today, and again they missed. As a friend remarked last night over dinner before The Handmaid's Tale, there's no scenario where assassinating Trump is a good thing. Campaign against him, speak out against him, campaign for the people and values you care about, vote against him. That's the way to keep him out of office.