EDITOR:

Now, after an assassination attempt of Donald Trump both parties are clamoring that the rhetoric needs to be toned down on both sides.

Approximately 16 years ago, I had the pleasure to speaking to conservative Christian leader and activist Gary Bauer on a VCY network radio show. I have nothing but respect for the man, for if you present hard facts to the contrary of his opinion, he has the character and common sense to change his opinion. Without arrogance, he was in complete agreement with the point I was making concerning the violent rhetoric being spoken after Barack Obama was elected President, and how that rhetoric could turn to actions.

The rhetoric has continually escalated since then — and it’s not just from average citizens. I found it amusing how the day after the assassination attempt on the CBS program “Face-The Nation” how Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton stated there is no place for violence in America and called for calm. Really Senator? This same senator a few weeks earlier suggested that some people protesting the Gaza War in this country should be chained to vehicles and dragged down the cement roads so their skin is ripped off of them. And by the way, at the time, he encouraged citizens to take things into their own hands. It seems as if what happened may have awakened him.

I agree with what conservative Ben Shapiro said a couple of days after the assassination attempt. This travesty is an opportunity to bring us all together and realize how the rhetoric has gotten completely out of hand and needs to change.

We all would do well to remember the words of the great Booker T. Washington. Paraphrasing: ” No man shall drag me down so low as to make me hate them.”

Jerry Rahoi

Iron Mountain