Remembering our Humanity in a Whirlwind of Vitriol and Violence

Chances are you’re aware of the ICE shooting in Minneapolis this week, as well as the vitriolic reactions and polarization on both political sides. Predictably, the right-wing is defending the ICE agent who killed the female motorist, while the left-wing is defending the motorist. If you follow me on other platforms, it should be clear what my views are, and I’ve admittedly spent too much time on social media this week sharing them. I’d like to share something else.

The explosion of emotional reactions to this shooting illustrates just how divided Americans have become. At the core of this division is politics and the fear-driven, reactivity-inducing nature of the current system. At the core of this system is violence, which is required to enforce political agendas implemented through laws. This sows deep-seated hatred and suspicion among partisan factions as they retreat to their echo chambers, inhabit diametrically opposed realities, and seek power over the system to prevent it being weaponized against them.

All too often, this leads them to demonize and dehumanize their perceived enemies to the point of excusing and celebrating violence against them. This applies to many cases, from right-wing defenses of this week’s shooting to left-wing celebrations of the murder of Charlie Kirk. It feels as though humanity is losing its soul.

As this polarization accelerates and intensifies, I believe one of the best things we can do is remember our shared humanity, which supersedes (or, at least, should supersede) the political animosity sweeping the country. To that end, I want to share a small, simple story that reminds me of how important this is.