Dear Editor:
The attempted assassination of former president Trump on Saturday while at a political rally in Pennsylvania ended with Trump slightly wounded and tragically a civilian attendee killed and 2 others wounded.
Fortunately, the cowardly shooter was killed outright by a secret Serviceman. It is hopeful that after this tragedy the outrageous inflaming rhetoric, name calling and downright bitter enmity between large portions of American major political parties will end before another similar tragedy occurs. American politics has no place for violence and if the bitter rhetoric and inciting rage results in attempted murder and mayhem then it needs to stop on both sides.
Surely our two political party candidates can engage in running a sane and violence-free campaign, and if not, then they both should be replaced by their respective parties. Our country has not been so political and sectional divided since the decade prior to the onset of the American Civil War. In fact, there is an eerie similarity in America today to that era whereas the South and the North were at odds and partisanship was so rampart in the sitting congress that dire threats and one act of violent assault were the order of the day and the sergeant-at-arms was at wits end attempting to restore and maintain harmony in the halls of congress.
This contentious situation continued nonstop until 1860 when Lincoln's election as POTUS resulted in various southern states seceding and the Civil War started in April, 1861 with an ultimate 750,000 American deaths before it ended in 1865. Of course, in that era there was no broadcasting media but the regional newspapers of both North and South added their incendiary editorials to keep salt in the wounds of American politics.
Fast forward 163 years and we are currently facing a similar bitterly contested presidential race with both sides casting stones of discontent and such rabble-rousing rhetoric that may have resulted in inciting the wrath and rage of the deranged 20-year-old man who attempted to kill the Republican candidate Trump.
A great contributor to this is the left-leaning rabble-rousing liberal media such as CNN, who added their smug opinion of the "alleged" assassination of Trump. Now it appears both Trump and to a lesser degree, Biden, are reaching out and urging a calmer and less violent inciting campaign. This is as it should be because with all the rampart crime, drugs and massive illegal immigration, America surely needs a calming effect for such an important event as the Presidential election. Both sides need to clearly state in plain English exactly how they will manage the country as POTUS and more importantly, rather than harping constantly on past accomplishments and personalities, just what is their platform and how will they make America a viable respected nation and not a third world entity?
We Americans demand a true picture of what the candidates have to offer; a picture of the future, not the past. For certain Biden with his failing mental acuity is a loser running on his dismal record of rampart inflation, higher taxes, runaway illegal immigration, diminished world opinion, decreasing military prowess, etc. for the past 3 1/2 years. His statement that he is the best person for POTUS and his past record should be the reason he is reelected, then he should be soundly defeated in November.
On the other hand, Trump did have a much better record overall during his 4 years as POTUS and if he can also tone down his rhetoric and plainly state what his future program for America will be, then he should be elected.
Regardless of who wins the upcoming POTUS election, let it be based on the candidates' ability to run a clean, violence free campaign and give America chance to not fear for their lives over what should be the cornerstone of a true democracy; the opportunity to attend political rallies in a safe atmosphere and to cast their vote in an honest election free of intimidation and fear.
Charles David Sliger
Shelbyville
