Dealing with Hatred

Dealing with Hatred by Bill Wilson

The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting is a horrible event that should never happen in America. I express deepest sympathies and condolences to the victims' families. My prayers are with you and this very divided nation.

But despite the tragedy, those filled with hate only increased their vitriolic rhetoric against President Trump and conservative members of society, blaming them for the type of anti-Semitism that lures people to kill for race, religion or politics.

They continue to ruthlessly promote political gain over empathy for humanity. Their words are how to discern who really cares about what they say they care about. The blame continues no matter the circumstances.

The finger-pointers come from one side of the political aisle. They don't even express the decency of reverence for the victims and their families. They just relentlessly attack.

Take for instance, Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank telling MSNBC that Trump was giving license to unbalanced people like the perpetrators of mail bombs being sent to political figures and the synagogue shooting.

Billionaire Democratic Party donor Tom Steyer told CNN that Trump created the atmosphere of "routine, systematic lawlessness."

GQ Magazine's Julia Ioffe told CNN Trump has been trafficking in "anti-Semitic tropes" since he took office. She said his actions were like dog whistles to those who would commit violence.

Last week, Democratic Party Leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer said Trump condones the violence.

In reality, CNN, the NY Times, MSNBC and other networks are giving platforms to people suggesting assassination of the president, blowing up the White House, and other acts or visions of violence.

There have been over 610 incidents of violence against Trump supporters perpetrated by the left since January 2016 as documented by John Nolte of Breitbart News.

A Republican congressman was shot. Democratic leaders have labeled those who disagree with them as racists, bigots, deplorables, dregs, Nazis and more.

They have encouraged confrontation at restaurants, gas stations, and homes. They refuse to denounce violence committed by Antifa and others. There is a right and a wrong here. There is no moral equivalence to what these people have suggested and the rhetoric of Trump's tweets, although he needs to tone it down.

While Ioffe is wrong about Trump being anti-Semitic, after all, his son-in-law and his daughter are Jewish, she is right that vitriolic rhetoric is like a dog whistle to the crazies. We the People must demand that it stop. This is not America. It is rebellion and coup-making. It is way out of hand.

First, we can intercede by repenting for our country and praying the Lord brings peace to our land.

Next, we can invoke the Golden Rule whenever we speak to others--As Christ said in Luke 6:31,"And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise." We need to bring the rhetoric down and hold one another accountable to civility.

The third thing we can do is vote. Those politicians who blame others for what they themselves are doing must be sent a clear message that it is unacceptable and divisive behavior.

If Christians vote in unity, that message will be clearly sent.