A tragedy was barely averted a few days ago when the bullet intended for the head of former President Donald Trump missed its target by less than half an inch and struck his right ear. My wife and I were home, and she was watching the news and saw it happen live.
She called for me and I ran to the TV to see the near-instant replay of the assassination attempt on his life. I was not shocked. I was only surprised that something like this didn’t happen earlier.
When national leaders call a man an “existential threat to democracy,” these same leaders are labeling a U.S. citizen as an enemy of the United States. When people who are apparently ignorant of history call a man “Hitler” or label him a “Nazi,” they create an atmosphere where sick people feel empowered to do something about it.
After all, if the murder of Adolph Hitler in the 1930s would have prevented World War II, then the murder of Donald J. Trump just might prevent World War III, right?
I have no doubt whatsoever that there are people in America lamenting that the killer’s bullet failed to kill Trump. One person on social media wrote a day or so ago that he “wanted Trump dead, just not like this.” What’s wrong with these people? Do they want to kill everyone who disagrees with their political position?
Donald Trump is, at the very least, a “disrupter,” as one media person called him. He is prone to mock people, he can be crude, rude, and irritating. Lots of people don’t like him at all, I get that. I wish he would not call people names. I don’t like that he calls people “Crooked Hilliary,” “Little Marco,” “Slow Joe,” and all the rest. He can be a bully at times. But to call him “Hitler” and want him dead? That’s just sick.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, over 158 million votes were cast in the 2020 presidential election. “Trump won 74,222,958 votes, or 46.8 percent of the votes cast. That’s more votes than any other presidential candidate has ever won, with the exception of Biden.” Joe Biden won 81,283,098 votes, or 51.3 percent of the votes cast. Third party candidates won less than 2% of the popular vote.
Nearly half the country wanted Trump elected and didn’t see him as “Hitler” or a “threat to democracy.” And now there is going to be a rematch. And that is intolerable to some people.
In the late 1980s. I was heavily involved in politics. Even at the local level, it was mean, vicious, and downright nasty. I decided that I didn’t need that in my life and quietly stepped away. I am not a Democrat nor a Republican. I vote on the issues, not the party. But even if I totally disagree with someone’s opinions, viewpoints, or platforms, I don’t want them DEAD!
There’s enough blame to go around for the condition in which we find ourselves as a nation. It’s extremely easy to be a “keyboard commando” and call people libelous names and advocate for unthinkable action. When enough people join in the clamor, a mob is formed. When a mob is formed, it is a short step to anarchy and murder.
Every four years, America has an opportunity for a bloodless revolution. While other less democratic nations arrest, imprison, and murder political opponents, Americans use the ballot box. At least so far.
And to you Christians, whether left or right, maybe if you would pray in the manner of 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Instead of being critical and condemning, then just maybe you could accomplish something positive instead of contributing to the chaos.
As for me, I have had enough. If anyone in my social media circle calls Trump a “Nazi” or Biden a “Communist,” I will delete and block them. If I see someone — anyone — advocate violence or death toward either man, I will report such to the Secret Service or the FBI. It is time for the adults to put a stop to “business as usual” in current politics. Enough is enough.
[David Epps is the Rector of the Cathedral of Christ the King (www.ctk.life). Worship services are on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and on livestream at www.ctk.life. He is the bishop of the Diocese of the Mid-South (www.midsouthdiocese.life). He has been a weekly opinion columnist for The Citizen for over 27 years. He may be contacted at davidepps@ctk.life.]
Fr. Epps—Needless to say, as a follower of Jesus the Christ, I deplore all violence; including the attempt on Donald Trump’s life.
However, because I consider Trump a threat to democracy, I feel now is the time to speak out. Now, before the bully-boy become a despot.
I do my best to remain civil. I endeavor to listen and understand. To be honest, I wonder if my opinions have any effect; but I want to be able to say, “I tried to be better than the policies touted by Trump. Hate does not make us great.”
Allow me to quote from your column on Antisemitism, May 8—
“If enough German citizens, priests, and pastors had stood up early enough, if enough had voted differently, and if enough had said, “These brown shirts and this hate-filled man shall not have their way”, then maybe, just maybe, tens of millions world-wide would not have died.”
I’m standing up, I’m voting, I’m speaking.
Suz if you were intellecutally honest, you’d look at what the Democrat elites just did to Biden by forcing him to step out of the race, and see that by wiping out the will of the voters that voted in the primaries, and by now having the opportunity to INSTALL the candidate of their choice, that your Democrat buddies are actually the ones who are usurping democracy.
Well said, Suz!
❤️🙏🏽👏
Hope Rev Epps doesn’t read any of Vance’s past comments on his running mate. The “H” word is scattered among quite a few other epithets.
Unfortunately, this is all too common in our politics. See also current VP Harris’s debate comments from the 2020 election about Biden’s history of racist words and actions. Everyone (except reportedly Jill Biden) has moved on, Trump and Vance will too.
Let’s hope all politicians will lead with a positive message for what they can do for America, and debate with facts and logic for the rest of the campaign season.
That’s a good prayer and one God will honor. It glorifies Him. In the meantime, there are things we can do. Quit promoting hatred is one. I’m not a deal-maker but I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll quit calling Trump bad things if you will quit condemning people who break laws or mistreat other people. In doing so we might glorify God and maintain civility. Otherwise, the President can do whatever he deems best about Trump with “absolute immunity” as far as I’m concerned.
I don’t hate Trump. I don’t hate anyone. I hate what he does. Trying to kill Trump is wrong, but not worse than killing anyone else and I will have no part of it. It’s immoral (in that it disobeys God in many ways) and illegal (for those who are not above the law). Many Americans have valid reasons to fear Trump. To some, it’s a fight or flight thing and we know real men don’t take flight. We may not have been taught critical thinking, but we have been taught to fight. Trump’s influence is bad news and doesn’t get better with time. Trump’s methods are only more democratic than Hitler’s in that Trump has yet to demonstrate violence (at least to a court’s jury). As to my fear, democracy evolves into anarchy. I’m confident God is humbling us; I’m just concerned about how painful it will be as a nation.
I’ll take you at you’re word that you want to end the demonization and hatred of Trump. But you have a few fear-driven inner demons that couldn’t be held back.
“(T)he President can do whatever he deems best about Trump with “absolute immunity…”, and “Trump’s methods are only more democratic than Hitler’s…”. Really? C’mon man!
Critical thinking is not believing the politicians and main stream media that brought us “Russia, Russia, Russia”, “the border is secure”, the Afghanistan withdrawal was an “extraordinary success”, “inflation is transitory”, and “the President is as sharp as a tack”, etc hook, line and sinker.
It’s sad that you are so fearful from years of listening to their Trump hate. We’ll be just fine – – probably much better off – – if he is elected President.
I’m not a main stream media kind of guy. I don’t even watch the news on television or listen to it on the radio. I verify “in-depth” writings and do my research. I challenge it all, just like I challenge David Epps.
I’m not concerned as much about Russia as long as we continue to check imperialism. The same can be said for China. Afghanistan was trouble as soon as we put boots on the ground and the way we left was terrible. We have a way of doing that. Inflation will continue until supply is greater than demand.
Trump is bad news. What makes him so bad is people believe him. Same as Hitler. Trump does the same to the U.S. as he did with Atlantic City. It’s all about snake oil and its corruption on politics. The Democratic Party has its problems, but most are due to two things, trying to replace God with government and trying to buy votes. I wish we had a viable Republican Party, but we don’t.
In follow up with Mr. Tucker, an interesting read of course is The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. In order to understand today, you need an understanding and an appreciation of yesterday, to guide us forward. If not, you are destined to repeat things. Accession to power in the early ‘30s was an expression of ultra-nationalism first (to include racial and religious nationalism). This was during the Great Depression mind you where Germany was also hit hard economically. Things began as a far-right authoritarian political ideology characterized by patriotic flags, slogans, symbols, chants and the like. Sound familiar to today.
They then unified their patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common enemy. This perception turned obsession and was based upon a national theme of much needed national security. In modern times the theme is immigration whether it’s controlled or not around the globe. Militarism and might within the region reigned supreme and soon was given a disproportionate amount of government funding.
Traditional gender roles were defined and divorce, abortion, homosexuality for example was suppressed with the assistance of the church. Here the lines of religion and government were soon intertwined. Soon afterwards hostility towards higher education ramped up dramatically where professors were censored or arrested. And of course the media had to be controlled or manipulated to prevent counter opinions but mainly to emphasize their message, all in the name of the leader who knew best and was going to guide them to national supremacy. To ensure this, friends and associates and even family were appointed to positions to control all of the narrative. By the way, who is today’s RNC Chair and Co-Chair?
Don’t forget the books!
Excellent article Mr Epps. I think most of us rational people are sick of the hatred and name calling occurring in today’s society. As we’ve recently seen it can lead to horrible actions by those affected.