Trump isn't a symptom of the problem he has become it's idol. That should make you pause.
The use of scapegoats, the broad generalizations of other people, those are human psychological and sociological responses. Aside from the dangerous actions it risks perpetrating, the fact is those are
normal expected human responses. For the American version, September 11th, and war on terror. Muslims became the enemy, just ask the public. Economy suffers, income inequality rages, and more "others" are blamed. Humans are still apes. Ape smash. It's what we do.
We try and find unity in peaceful times. These are not those times. We are growing our own divisions with a bitter divisiveness. We do not speak to others in ways that can help walk them off of ledges. In fact some of us push them into taking that leap. Of descending into madness and despair. Of closing off their humanity and giving in to primal instinct. Ape smash. And so they do.
Trump is accused of being one of pushes them off the ledge. I get it, with his narcissism he has ZERO capacity for real human connection. To understand right from wrong in the tone or style of his actions or responses. That ignorance was on display with his "fine guys" comment. but it was in reference to third parties, not violent combatants. We literally say the same thing. Not all Muslims are terrorists. We try to tell people to calm down when the shoe is on the other foot. When a Muslim man is responsible. It's a call for calm, for peace. Because there are more people on this planet than just the violent perpetrators or even those who support them. Not all Muslims are terrorists. Not all Southerners are racists.
Yet his comment was misused as propaganda. I mean, the baby President was literally spoon fed (via Fox News) the story that Southerners were rallying for their history. He had no idea the true nature of the rally, nor was he speaking of those directly involved in violence or hate. Yet opponents saw an opportunity to smash. And so they did. However, in that zeal to crush an opponent you also polarize people who did not share you view. It is understandable, because in times of stress we compartmentalize things. We generalize and misconstrue. Muslim = Terrorist. Southerner = Nazi. Trump = Evil.
But it's a similar, if not the exact same, fallacy used by today's killer. To generalize a group. To claim them as "other". To hate on them all, rather than the actual perpetrators. To condemn speech when they do not chiefly identify as belonging to your tribe. Heaven forbid they are ignorant or different in any way. Or that they feel threatened and express it. Many people have personal failings. Not all of them are evil, or act in violence. Trump is not fit to be President, but that does not make him evil or directly supportive of the violence today. Please remember such distinctions.
But what, exactly, are we to do when faced with such differences? Evil people, true evil such as today's shooter. He wants to push others off the ledge. From fear into madness. From speech into violence. He sought no peace nor understanding. He did not seek to live with his opponents. He wants others drawn into his violence. He wants to spread hatred and terror. Ape smash, and so he did. It should not be our response to see a Muslim as a terrorist. Or a White man as this shooter. Such stereotypes and generalizations only fuel the cycle of violence. Our responses DO affect people. It takes some effort not to be the primitive apes that we are. To not be afraid, to not see a threat and paint others with it. To not want to act against "them".
How we act is very important. These are times of stress and fear. People are at risk of giving in to their worse instincts. If you want to protect yourself, then stop and think. The ape response is to smash. We know what that looks like all too well. What does it mean NOT to smash? What does it mean to live together with people who are different, who may even be afraid of you? How do you bridge that gap and come together to form a peaceful nation? How do you find a peaceful coexistence with those who might even celebrate today's massacre?
It is not enough to simply condemn violence. We must study the path towards it. We must recognize it. We must plot against it. We must act in ways that avoid violence, and help others to avoid it as well. Trump has no capacity to benefit us in that regard, but we need to do better than just pointing fingers or condemning "white right wing terrorists". We need to find and appeal to a common ground, to find a common humanity. We need to invite as many people as we can to join us in our cause. For a united effort. For only when we have brought enough people together can we make an impact.
How do we walk people down from the ledge, and into a peaceful society, rather than just push them off into further madness and despair? The situation needs to be addressed. And while pointing fingers may have its uses, we first have to identify a correct course of action and lead by example. To do the right thing and help teach others what that is. How to help others cope with their worse instincts by appealing to their better instincts. This is, by and large a fight for the human soul. Whether we are worthy of life on this blue planet. Whether we can find a way to unite people, before madness clouds our vision and our collective chance for survival.
Sure, we could "ape smash" against a given target today. We can copy that mistake very well. The trick is to not smash. Learn it, define it, teach it.