On Saturday evening, I was laying in bed, scrolling on TikTok. A little after 6:00 p.m., I saw a livestream of former President Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. I watched for a bit before swiping up. The next thing I knew, I received a notification from AP News that Trump had been rushed off stage.
I quickly went to YouTube and put on a live news stream. The video on constant replay showed Trump speaking, touching his ear as several popping sounds went off, and ducking down to the floor. Secret Service agents dog-piled Trump before taking him off stage and into an armored vehicle, which went a short distance before Trump was put into a helicopter.
Social media lit up. Some said this was planned by the campaign. Some said the shooter should have had better aim. Seeing this disgusted me.
A video of someone bloody with their face covered, being carried away by officers, was the first to quickly spread. Folks claimed it was the shooter. It turned out that the man was Corey Comperatore. He had been shielding his daughters from the gunfire when he was struck in the head.
Dr. Jim Sweetland, an emergency room physician, was nearby and began administering first aid to try and save Comperatore. Heartbreakingly, he did not survive.
The next video to be shared around was of rally-goers yelling for law enforcement as someone laying on a building's roof pointed a rifle. Several shots can be heard as people screamed, and the shooter was then taken out by a sniper.
In the hours and days following the incident, the online world seemed to descend into chaos. Conspiracy theories blossomed, each more outlandish than the last. Some began to claim that this event proved Trump was the chosen one, religiously. So many disturbingly celebrated the violence, wishing the shooter had been more successful.
This is not just about political differences; it's about a fundamental breakdown in being able to see each other as fellow human beings. The darkness that spills out in comment sections and social media feeds points to a society that has lost touch with basic empathy.
What happened to us? When did we become so eager to dehumanize those we disagree with? The way people quickly spread rumors and hate shows how much trust and hope we've lost in each other. We are quick to point fingers, to label, and to condemn without a second thought.
In times like these, it's crucial to remember that our words and actions have consequences. The spreading of misinformation and the celebration of violence only deepen the divides between us. We must strive to find our common humanity, to see the person behind the politics, and to extend compassion even when we vehemently disagree. Only then can we hope to rebuild the trust and empathy that are the foundations of a healthy society.
