The recent acts of political violence and acts intending to harm government facilities and others are absolutely heartbreaking and show a vile, disgusting side of America that, very unfortunately, appears to be becoming more and more prominent.
Even locally.
Our phone rang early the morning of Thursday, June 12, with local officials seeking help in getting the word out to the public about an act of arson that took place in multiple county offices early that morning, closing the offices.
More about that incident and its aftermath appears in this week’s issue, but we’ll note this story is evolving, and we’ll continue to follow it.
The county is still working through challenges relating to the incident and the investigation into it is ongoing, meaning answers to all our questions — like what the motive may have been — aren’t currently available.
We do know that inflicting such damage on a government facility (or any facility), no matter the reasoning, is inexcusable.
We encourage anyone with information that may help with the investigation to contact the Pagosa Springs Police Department via the Archuleta County Combined Dispatch Center at (970) 731-2160.
Then, Saturday, news broke of multiple politically motivated shootings in Minnesota, including the assassination of Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman. Hortman and her husband were both murdered, with another state lawmaker, John Hoffman, and his wife also shot multiple times. Thankfully, Hoffman and his wife are expected to survive.
Officials reported investigators found a hit list of public officials from several states in the suspect’s vehicle, and that the suspect had been to the homes of other lawmakers.
Officials called the crimes “the stuff of nightmares.”
The crimes follow multiple assassination attempts against Donald Trump while he was running for office, an arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence, the murders of Israeli Embassy staffers and more.
And both Republicans and Democrats are warning about rising political violence targeting elected officials, with lawmakers stating they receive death and violent threats regularly.
It’s sickening. And enough is enough.
We can be — and should be — better than this.
We need to remember the lesson many little kids are taught: Use your words when you’re upset.
Call or email lawmakers with questions and suggestions, not insults and threats. Listen to each other. Understand that while we don’t all agree, we all want this country to be strong and prosperous.
We’re reminded of a speech by Jeff Daniels’ character in the HBO news drama “The Newsroom” (which started in 2012) about the fact that the United States is no longer the greatest country, but used to be.
While we fully admit the show is a work of fiction, the writers hit the nail on the head on a few points. In part, the character, Will McAvoy, a news anchor, states: “We sacrificed, we cared about our neighbors, we put our money where our mouths were, and we never beat our chest. We built great big things, made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured diseases, and cultivated the world’s greatest artists and the world’s greatest economy. We reached for the stars, and we acted like men. We aspired to intelligence; we didn’t belittle it; it didn’t make us feel inferior. We didn’t identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election, and we didn’t scare so easy. And we were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed. By great men, men who were revered. The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one — America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.”
Let’s work more to not identify ourselves and others based on who ballots were cast for and focus on making this country a better, safer place — together.
Randi Pierce
