This has to stop.
On August 27, two small children were killed and seventeen were wounded as they attended mass at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The shooter was 23-yearold Robin Westman, formerly known as Robert Westman, a transgender woman who formerly attended the school. On the magazines of his automatic rifle, Westman wrote phrases like, “Where is your God?”, “Kill Donald Trump”, and “Free Palestine.”
The shooting comes just months after 58-year-old Vance Boelter assassinated Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota lawmaker, together with her husband, Mark, at their home. Boelter then proceeded to shoot and wound State Senator John Hoffman and his wife at their home. Both Representative Hortman and Senator Hoffman were Democrats.
According to the evidence discovered, it is clear that both shooters were politically motivated. They considered themselves justified in what they saw as a life-or-death struggle against the evil agendas of those from the other side of the ideological spectrum.
Both men were obviously disturbed and deranged.
But the blame for such violence can’t and shouldn’t stop with them. It lies with all of us. The rhetoric utilized by both political parties and the media has poured gasoline on the bonfire of people’s passionate political opinions.
Don’t get me wrong. Many of the decisions our government makes are lifeand- death. In many ways, the morality and future of our country lie in the balance. The issues are important and should be passionately debated.
But the hyperbolic rhetoric utilized by both sides only serves to silence thoughtful discussion and enflame people’s passions.
Just a day before the most recent attack, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called on Democrats to unite against President Trump and his “fascist policies.” The DNC chair, Ken Martin, called Trump a “dictator-in-chief” and “wannabe king.” By constantly calling the president and his followers “Fascists” and “Nazis,” the Left leads people to believe that they need to oppose the president by any means necessary in order to save the world from the next Hitler or Stalin.
In many ways, however, Democrats are simply responding in kind to the cruel and derisive ways President Trump speaks about and mocks his adversaries. With his rhetoric, President Trump himself has riled up his followers to the point that a group of them brazenly stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power.
To be clear, President Trump did not tell the crowds on January 6 to overthrow the government, nor did he send Vance Boelter to assassinate Representative Hortman and her husband. In the same way, Governor Walz and DNC chair Ken Martin did not intend for Robin Westman to take up arms and murder innocent children.
But words have power. James tells us in the Bible that the tongue, though a small part of the body, can cause a lot of damage, like a small spark that sets a forest aflame (James 3:5). How we speak to and about each other is important.
The exaggerated, overthe- top rhetoric and namecalling need to stop. The problem begins with the politicians and media, but we are all to blame. We are the ones consuming the content they produce. We are the ones parroting what they say. We are the ones letting anger and vitriol grow in our hearts against those with whom we disagree.
Yes. These issues are of utmost importance, dare I say, even life-and-death. Yes. We should passionately let our voices be heard. But we can do so with respect. We can do so in love. We can do so, remembering that words have power.
Because this has to stop. Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion,” on Amazon.com.
