‘Fight’ cannot end political violence

KIM HYOUNG-GU
The author is the Washington bureau chief of the JoongAng Ilbo.

“Bang, bang, bang”

The gun shots fired at former U.S. President Donald Trump in a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, completely shook American society on a peaceful afternoon on July 13. Blood was flowing from Trump’s right ear through his cheek. The scene where Trump raised his fist and shouted “Fight!” was deeply imprinted in people’s minds.

Two days later at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, “Fight!” became the biggest slogan confirming and symbolizing Trumpism among party members and MAGA supporters. On the first evening, when Trump walked in with a bandage over his right ear, thousands of supporters stood up and shouted “Fight!” They chanted it whenever Trump moved. United, his supporters even shouted “Fight!” when Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump and other speakers gave speeches.

The shooting incident is ironic, as Trump — who has come this far by provoking hatred and anger — became the victim of political polarization. Another irony is that Trump claims to have completely changed after the attack and advocates unity of America, while supporters actually pledge to fight and defeat the enemy in their “crusade.” A delegate at the convention said that as it was God’s blessing that saved Trump, it was time for them to fight for him to revive America.

However, the solution to addressing “political violence” cannot be another form of violence. Given the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol staged by Trump supporters who didn’t accept his 2020 presidential election defeat, concerns are growing that a more evolved form of political violence may occur around the November election. The seriousness of the problem lies in the fact that America is not just divided into Republicans and Democrats and conservatives and the liberals, but also that the division is expressed in extreme terror in combination with “politics of hatred” and “politics of anger.”

I look back on the political reality of Korea, where hate and demonization of the other side has become commonplace. Former Democratic Party leaders Song Young-gil and Lee Jae-myung as well as People Power Party Rep. Bae Hyun-jin were attacked just because they have different political affiliations. Politicians must stop encouraging political polarization and taking the spoils by relying on hardline supporters. Politics of extreme confrontation is just a hotbed of political terrorism that threatens democracy.