– Editorial – - America must stand united
By Editorial Board
Corey Comperatore is dead today, because of the actions of a madman. Comperatore was a volunteer firefighter and father, who attended a campaign rally for Donald Trump, Saturday.
He was killed shielding his family from bullets fired by a would-be assassin.
David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Penn., and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, of Moon Township, Penn., are still in critical condition from gunshot wounds they sustained in Saturday’s attack.
As the many hours, and thousands of words of reporting in the past several days, have relayed, Trump was about 10 minutes into his speech, at an outdoor rally, Saturday afternoon, in a rural community north of Pittsburgh, Penn. Shots rang out, followed by screams.
The former president clutched his bleeding right ear and dove to the ground, as Secret Service agents swarmed him. He received the official nomination, Monday, at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Americans may never truly know why Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Penn., sought to secure his place in history books, by attempting to assassinate a presidential candidate. His true motives likely died with him on the rooftop of the building, where he was gunned down by the security detail.
There will be investigations and more investigations. There will be pundits and radicalized fanatics, who will attempt to use this action as a dog whistle for further political violence, to take place in retribution.
In all of this, there needs to be calm. America needs to take a metaphorical deep breath, before rushing to act in violence. America must pause, and take a look back on the circling cesspit drain that has passed as political rhetoric and debate in the United States, over the past decade or more. Things must change in American politics.
It is OK for people to disagree on politics and on the deep issues of our times. There is no monopoly on what is the right course for our great country. In many ways, we are all just floundering about in the dark, doing the best we can. Good, well-intentioned, intelligent and moral people, have differing views.
Rather than vilify and dehumanize political opponents, we, as a society, need to answer opposing thoughts and ideas, with reason and discussion.
An innocent man is dead and so is his killer. Another two men’s lives are forever changed from their injuries. It remains to be seen how this brush with death will impact Trump’s campaign or life.
As a country, as a people, we must stand united in horror at the acts of the madman, and each of us must make the choice to take that deep breath and answer not with anger, but with understanding.
America must step back from the brink of self destruction. American strength rests in its unity. In the wake of Saturday’s heinous assassination attempt, America must stay united, in support of our freedoms and institutions.
We cannot allow a would-be assassin to kill the American dream.
Members of the Courier Sentinel editorial board include publisher Carol O’Leary, general manager Kris O’Leary and Star News editor Brian Wilson.
