Your Ego is Killing People.
The Planned Parenthood shooter was quoted in saying “No more baby parts” before his murderous rampage. I’ve said this before, and it bears repeating now. These are just a few frustrated thoughts about this week’s shooting and the surrounding climate of infallibility.
Those in positions of political/social authority have an obligation to use their words responsibly. When you have the trust of the public, it’s a duty to them to tell them the truth. Not the politicized interpretation of truth.
Certain figures have hidden behind podiums saying they’ve been misquoted or having the audacity to say “I never said that” despite ACTUALLY having said it, for far too long.
There’s nothing inherently wrong about being wrong until you refuse to accept it. We don’t dole out extreme punishment for being caught in a lie or for sharing false information. You’re not dipped in acid or have fingers removed with cigar clippers. You’re just wrong for a little while until you can regain public trust.
Being grilled by the media doesn’t make you the victim. It gives you the opportunity to show real character and admit fault, regardless of political leaning.
There is a direct correlation between never admitting when you’re wrong and the repercussions it holds for others.
For weeks, Carly Fiorina refused to acknowledge her lies about the alleged Planned Parenthood videos whenever she was called out during interviews. Instead of admitting a screw up or clarifying that she COULD have been wrong due to misinformation, she doubled down on her positions and blamed the “liberal media” for her predicament.
The shooter was obviously motivated by some fictionalized version of Planned Parenthood. The same version of Planned Parenthood that has been recklessly defunded and demonized for months by people like Fiorina.
When these violent outbursts occur, it’s never attributed to the unyielding propaganda that influenced the shooter. The so-called “liberal media” is always the scapegoat for identifying “non existent patterns” or for “exploiting tragedy.” The real exploitation happens when base emotions are carelessly played like instruments, when fictions are used to rile up voters for political gain, or when ego gets in the way of truth.
This is not just “political correctness” or censorship. This is literally life and death. The responsibility to truth over deceit and manipulation has to prevail if we are to close the polarization gap and return to a more peaceful discourse. It begins with admitting you’re wrong.
