ON MY SOAPBOX
This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Jason Hennington. This is not the opinion of the Taylor Press.
Last weekend, I was the director of the 11th annual Taylor Press 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, which was very successful. However, it seems like every year something catastrophic outside the tourney always happens, such as the Dickey House burning to the ground or other breaking news.
This year, someone tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump.
While I was working on the schedule for Sunday’s game, I watched news stations cover the tragic episode, which also left one man dead and two people critically injured.
As newscasters read tweets from both Democratic and Republican officials, I thought about how bad politics have become. It’s gone beyond just supporting your party. Now people are attacking anyone who doesn’t agree with their views.
In case of Trump, it was an actual case of gunfire and death.
The old phrase is, “[Explicit] rolls downhill” is ringing true.
I have seen political supporters from both sides of the aisle verbally attack and insult their opponents. Usually, it’s on social media, but lately it’s translating to in-person situations as well.
My first question is, whom does the vitriol benefit?
When people become combative over political beliefs, it negates the fact we are all one community.
When disaster strikes, it doesn’t choose left or right, it hits everyone.
Our community is strong and comes together in the face of disasters, but even then there are people who want to push their political agendas and mask it as helping others.
My second question is, what are the chances of the violence in national politics trickling down to local party differences?
Local municipal government is supposed to be nonpartisan, but it’s clear that sometimes it is not.
There are meetings where elected officials verbally attack each other on the dais. I have attended meetings where you can hear yelling during an executive session. There have been incidents where people in the crowd speak loudly from their seats, then speak out of turn.
There have been continual disruptions and even a few times where the Taylor mayor has told City Council members, “We are not going to engage.”
While I don’t think the violence will become an issue in local politics — municipal and Williamson County — there is still a sliver of doubt because of recent verbal tirades, which seem to be increasing in volume and intensity.
I have said for many years how much I dislike election season because it brings out the worst in people, and that has not changed. But what would elections be without mudslinging, insults, lies and accusations?
It would make a reporter’s job a lot less stressful, but it would also be boring. I don’t expect things to change with elections and smear campaigns, but I hope the volcanic rhetoric and the threats of violence will disappear.
In the actual words of Rodney King, “Can we all get along?”
I’m going to get off my soapbox now, but before I do, I want to once again say thank you to everyone who played, donated or just came out to watch the 11th annual Taylor Press 3-on-3 Tournament. I’ll write a thank-you speech next week.
“ Revenge and retalia-tion always perpetuate the cycle of anger, fear and violence.”
— Coretta Scott King
