Age of Violence

I was thinking...

Last week, "The New York Times" had an intriguing article about what some call "The Age of Political Violence." Sabrina Tavernise, who covers political life for the Times, interviewed Sean Westwood, a scholar who tracks political violence and how Americans react to it. The interview question was asked, "How is political violence different today?" Westwood's reply was insightful: "The individuals who commit these acts today are mostly lone wolves. Largely mentally ill, largely male, largely younger. The thing that seems to connect them is not ideology — it's anger."

Westwood went on to surmise that "we've had more than 9,000 religious hate crimes — about 5,700 were antisemitic — and more than 25,000 racial hate crimes. I would strongly argue that it's these other cleavages, these other acts of violence, that are hurting us. ("The New York Times" 'The Morning', April 29, 2026)

We may agree or disagree with Sean Westwood's opinion, but one thing I observe, maybe you do too, is that we have moved away from 'classy leadership' into 'crassy leadership' across this great land of ours. If my observation is anywhere near hitting the target, then it is no wonder (at least to me) we have more violent rhetoric among individuals today. We have normalized unkindness, ill-mannered-ness, rudeness, and just plain old nasty postures in our public conversations. If my mother were President, a whole lot of people would be getting their mouths washed out with soap (probably Ivory soap because it tastes the worst… just saying).

I have written this before, but it bears repeating. What are our children and grandchildren learning from our public leaders today? They are learning bad behavior with a dose of mean-spiritedness sprinkled on top. They are being mentored to be confrontational and sowers of conflict. They are being taught that to be hard-hearted and slippery serpents is the way to achieve success, power, and wealth. They are seeing DAILY (all caps on purpose) that lying is an okay posture for conversation as long as the results are what you, as an individual, believe they should be.

Regardless of our political preferences, ideologies, and opinions, leadership with a touch of crass is not leadership; it is bully-ship. Whether we are King, Queen, President, Senator, Congress Representative, State Representative, Governor (or let me say, 'Campaigning for Governor '), Mayor, School Principal, Teacher, Preacher, or an ordinary Citizen, there is no place for crass leadership with offensive rudeness, bully pulpits, or any kind of disregard for another human being. Agree with them or don't, we must relearn how to be civil, kind, understanding, empathetic, and caring. Call me naïve, but classy leadership is what is desperately needed in our world, nation, states, counties, towns, schools, churches, and communities.

I need to hear these words of Jesus with fresh ears and an open heart, so perhaps maybe you do too. "Either consider the tree good and its fruit good, or consider the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. A tree is known by its fruit… What fills the heart comes out of the mouth. Good people bring out good things from their good treasure… By your words, you will be either judged innocent or condemned as guilty." (Matthew 12:33-37, CEB)

Are we living in an age of violence? Some say yes. Some say no. What do you say? I say, "be careful little mouths what you say for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful, little mouths…be careful little hands…be careful all of us what we say and do." For when the river of violence begins to flow, it can flood the minds and hearts of humanity with destructive force.

Wonder if there are tariffs on Ivory Soap. We might could use a boatload these days.

Always thinking...