What Assassination Headlines Reveal About Us

Weeks ago on Instagram, I posted a video about the Narrative War we’re heading into as AI becomes more pervasive in media.

But the truth is… we are here. Long before AI, we have been here.

Over the weekend, another assassination attempt on the president scrolled across our screens and immediately I set my internal clock. "How long before the sides predictably mobilize to interpret reality?" I asked myself. 

And it didn't take long.

Within moments, the sides unveiled themselves. Those who support and as sympathetic to the president displayed the shock and outrage we would expect to witness. And those who hold disdain and distrust towards the president immediately concluded "staged".

And this is where we are.

America can no longer have shared responses because we now have different versions of reality.

Worse than that, we are bold, loud, proud, rude and QUICK to post about that which we do not know. Before dinner has even gotten cold, we are reporters on the scene of an investigation we were not invited to.

There was a time when the question was “Is it wrong to attempt murder?”. And that had a clear answer (yes) despite the few with a distorted moral compass who contested it.

But now? That question has bowed to another question: "Did it even happen?"

And that’s where the real impasse lies.

A society cannot function at that kind of stalemate.

Yet this is the reality we’re navigating, and it’s not going away anytime soon.

If you're waiting for me to tell you what happened in that room,....I'm sorry. I wasn't invited to dinner.

What should you actually do?

1. If you’re angry today over what you feel was a true attempt on the president’s life, this is an appropriate response. Be angry, but do not sin.

2. If you’re dismissive & minimizing today, convinced it was staged, take a moment to reflect on times when you have mocked others for their own distrust that you labeled as "conspiracy".

3. And for both of you, tend to your own garden. Don’t add fuel to the fire. Step back from the noise. Pray where you feel burdened. Refrain from rage posting on social media and find your trusted circles where you can vent lament from a shared foundation. Practice humility. And stay grounded in what is worthy and productive.

And maybe we will never agree. But possibly we can contribute to a better way or responding and engaging in a divided world.

With love,

Peace