This was originally written for The Blog for Arizona
Author: Dianne Post
The article discusses the alarming rise in violence perpetrated by white supremacists and nationalists in the United States, targeting a diverse range of groups and individuals including school boards, government officials, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. This trend, however, is not new but a continuation of a long history of violence in the U.S. directed at marginalized and minority communities, starting from the Native peoples and enslaved Africans to immigrants, workers, and activists throughout the centuries.
“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”
Plato, The Republic.
The author recounts various instances of violence within the U.S., such as the Trail of Tears, the Haymarket Square incident, the massacres in Greenwood and Rosewood, and attacks against union members and civil rights activists. The article also highlights the U.S.’s history of violence and intervention abroad, from Latin America to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, suggesting that the violence practiced overseas inevitably impacts domestic affairs, as seen with some January 6 insurrectionists having military or law enforcement backgrounds.
The piece critiques the violence ingrained in the country’s political history, noting that vitriol and divisiveness are not new to American politics. It calls for collective action against the current wave of discrimination and violence, urging individuals to speak out, take a stand, and engage in various forms of activism to combat white supremacist and nationalist violence. The article underscores the importance of community, human rights advocacy, and the responsibility to leave the planet better than we found it, invoking Emerson’s words as a guiding principle.
Full article about American Violence