Political Violence Undermines Our Democracy
Ballots, Not Bullets
Times like these require sadness, lament, and reflection, not callousness, jocularity, or finger-pointing.
It has been less than 24 hours since an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump that left one person dead, and I've already witnessed some of America's best — calls for nonviolence and a civil tone — and worst — calls for blame and payback.
In a democracy, we resolve to settle our differences through deliberation, persuasion, and elections. Those who use political violence avoid all those norms and seek to impose their will through intimidation and harm. Democracy is hard, and change can often seem slow. Political violence can often be motivated by a desire for political expediency, but it doesn't work. Since the Civil War, the most lasting changes have happened through nonviolence.
So what can you do, in this situation? Here are just a few suggestions:
Don’t share or repost messages that simply speculate, without evidence, on the causes or consequences of the assassination attempt.
Passions are hot right now. You may hear a friend, family member, or co-worker say something that really pisses you off. But don't add fuel to the fire. Seek to lower, not raise, the temperature.
Be patient. Remember that much of the media is in a rush to publish as much information as it can on this event. In that rush, it's likely to get some things wrong. Simply wait and you will learn more accurate information.
Seek justice and peace. Look for efforts in your own community where you can work to address political violence. There may be some in reaction to yesterday's events, or programs already in place where you can make a contribution.
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What Else We’re Reading
NYT: “Why a New Conservative Brain Trust Is Resettling Across America: Pro-Trump professionals aren’t just talking about remaking Western civilization. Some are uprooting their lives to show that they mean it.”
As Mr. Trump barrels through his third presidential campaign, his supporters buoyed by last week’s debate, many of the young activists and thinkers who have risen under his influence see themselves as part of a project that goes far beyond electoral politics. Rather, it is a movement to reclaim the values of Western civilization as they see it. Their ambitions paint a picture of the country they want should Mr. Trump return to the White House — one driven by their version of Christian values, with larger families and fewer immigrants. They foresee an aesthetic landscape to match, with more classical architecture and a revived conservative art movement and men wearing traditional suits.
The Roys Report: “The Washington Insiders Helping Sean Feucht Spread Christian Nationalism in Congress”
As he builds his network in Congress, Feucht appears to be fostering ties to the executive branch should Trump win in November. In late June, Feucht convened a prayer call days before President Joe Biden’s debate with Trump, telling some participants he had convened the last-minute Zoom session in response to texts from his “friend Chris LaCivita,” senior adviser to Trump’s reelection campaign.
LaCivita, Feucht said, asked him for “intervention from the divine” ahead of the first presidential debate. “I think it’s important, man,” he said. “When people are crying out for God to move in their campaign, heaven’s going to respond.”
Nature: “‘It can feel like there’s no way out’ — political scientists face pushback on their work: In a year in which numerous countries are going to the polls, many election-watching scientists are under pressure.”
Close to half of the world’s population lives in countries holding elections in 2024. Two of the biggest contests are in India, where results were declared earlier this month, and in the United States, which is due to vote in November. In both countries there are suggestions that democratic processes — including free and fair elections — are eroding. Nature spoke to scientists from around the world whose work has flung them into both the public and political limelight, sometimes with drastic consequences for their personal and professional lives. Many have found that the situation can quickly become untenable, particularly in places where support for researchers is lacking. “Institutional support is paramount,” says Starbird.
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