The Growth of Violence as "Sanctified" Form of Resistence

 

I don’t know about you, but the news sometimes really gets to me. I used to watch the morning news programs before getting ready for work, but discovered that is not a way for me to begin my day, let alone ease my anxiety. Now I mostly read short pieces from a couple of news sources, and try to get both sides, so I’m not just hearing what I want to hear. Listening to the other “side” hasn’t changed my opinions, but hopefully helps me to better understand, or at least know, what others think.

This week I read an article about the rise in violence from the left side of the political spectrum. This is the side most likely to call for gun control, diversity training for law enforcement and helping hands for the needy. This same side appears to have begun embracing violence as an answer to their anger. Somehow assassination is an act of political rightness?? The right claims the media only talks about violence from the right and ignores any violence from the other side. This article talked about the uptick in violence as a whole, and the growth of violence from the left.

Obviously most people, red or blue, abhor violence. Most of us would never think of killing a person because we think our country would be better if they were dead – well maybe we might think the country would be better if they were not here, but we wouldn’t wish them dead, or celebrate their death. However, there are extremist on both sides, and the far left is catching up with the far right in regards to the use of violence to make their point.

We see it in protests all the time. Most of the people protesting are just carrying signs and making their views on a particular issue known. Recently we had the No King’s Protest.  I had some friends who marched that day. That day I was at a graduation where several young people stood in protest against Israel and for Palestinian liberation. No violence ensued. But there are always those in a crowd who might not even be there for the cause, but to cause trouble. They prefer to break windows and set cars on fire. Those people always get the limelight and make it difficult for the nonviolent protesters to get their message heard. In Los Angeles recently the President felt he had to send in the National Guard and the Marines to handle the few who were getting off on setting fires and vandalizing businesses. That appeared to escalate the violence rather than subdue it.

This article had some interesting findings from an organization called Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) out of Rutgers University. NCRI recently did research into the rise of violence on the left. They said 1/3 of their respondents expressed some level of justification for acts of lethal political violence. 56% said the murder of President Trump would be somewhat justified (specifically in reference to the attempt on his life last year). Only 31% of Democrats felt Trump deserved sympathy over the attempt, while 60% said he did not. “We are witnessing the alarming rise of what the NCRI calls an ‘assassination culture’…it’s being sanctified as resistance by parts of the political left.”

Murder labeled appropriate action in resistance. It’s ok because we are on the correct side of the aisle on this issue?  Since when?  What happened to passive, peaceful resistance? Why are people lauding the man who gunned down the chairman of United Health Care as a hero?  Why is it ok to vandalize someone’s Tesla? Or a synagogue? Or shoot a young Jewish couple coming out of a building?

The spokesman from the NCRI said, “It’s not just about who pulls the trigger, but who remains silent.” That was convicting to me. Do people assume I stand with them just because I am silent? I don’t think anyone should be assassinated, ever, even those whose politics I disagree with. Isn’t that what America used to be about, I can disagree with you and we don’t have to kill each other?  And I don’t hate Tesla owners, let alone go out and mar their cars, just because I don’t care for Elon Musk. And I certainly don’t hate either Jews or Palestinians just because I disagree with how both sides are handling their disputes here in America or in Israel.  The Jews heading into their synagogues in America don’t deserve having their building defaced or their visit threatened by violence from people supporting Palestine. Nor should Palestinians fear being attacked by an Israeli while going about their business. This is America. We live side by side. What are we thinking?

Maybe that’s the point, we are not thinking; we are just reacting. I want to be more proactive, and more thoughtful in my approach. I want to show how we can agree to disagree without endangering relationships, or buildings or cars. I want to respond remembering we are all God’s creation, created in His image, deserving of honor and respect, even with those who think differently. I want to support nonviolence on both sides of our political spectrum. I will continue to pray for our country, our leaders and for all of us that we could see that violence is not the answer to our problems. 

 

 

 

Mesa, Jesus. “The Growing Threat of Political Violence from the Left”. Newsweek. newsweek.com. 1 World Trade Center, Floor 72 New York, New York 10007. 7/11/25.