I came of age in the turbulent, violent 1960’s. Things are now more polarized than then. We can keep screaming at each other as we near the abyss or we can figure out a way to avoid the coming chaos and splintering. “He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.” Murdering cops because a cop killed someone is monstrous. Yelling that a mayor who did not pull the trigger is responsible is also monstrous. None of this insanity will lead anywhere good. The various tribes will become hardened in their views, blame to other side even more, as our craven, corrupt political class tries to exploit it for short-term personal gain.
There was violence on both sides in the 60’s. I was politically radical then (probably still am.) and looking back, little if any good came from the violence. Cities burned, cops got shot, buildings were bombed, leaders were murdered. The country splintered politically and now it’s all coming back again. Only this time I wonder if the center will hold. If not, then the country will fracture and maybe even collapse. Is that what we want? Because that’s where we’re headed.