“The true enemy isn’t disagreement, but the hatred that turns us against each other.” — Joshua L Mullins

The recent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump is a chilling testament to how far we’ve fallen. The hatred directed at him showed plainly that some people couldn’t care less about human life if it goes against their agenda. “Kill him,” they say, as if eliminating a person could resolve their frustrations. This mindset is a dangerous reflection of how divided and intolerant we have become. I couldn’t believe how many people hate former President Trump so much that we hear, “The shooter should’ve spent more time on the range so he wouldn’t have missed.” Or making the shooter an American hero to so-called make America great again. How absurd and wicked this mindset is. And what about the innocent lives that were involved? One killed, many others injured. What about that? What if that was your family member, your son, your daughter, your mom, your dad? What about that? It’s sad that it has come to this, that our country has shown such discord and division. The Pledge of Allegiance states, “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” United we stand, divided we fall. Do these words mean anything anymore?

It’s truly disheartening to witness our country torn apart by division. The animosity toward fellow human beings, driven by a relentless pursuit of “personal rights” that trample on others, mirrors the fractures that led to the fall of Ancient Rome. Our demands for self-interest at the expense of unity threaten to repeat history’s grave mistakes. The Bible warns us of this downward spiral, stating that “men will be lovers of themselves,” highlighting how self-centeredness can lead to societal decay. In this “me me” world, the obsession with individualism over community only deepens the rifts among us.

Even if the attempted assassination was against President Joe Biden, I still would not condone this. Whether who you vote for, who you agree with or don’t agree with, it should never come down to trying to assassinate a president just to get your way. It did not end well for the shooter. Just remember that.

Think about the last time you scrolled through social media. How many posts did you see filled with anger, outrage, and division? It’s almost as if we thrive on tearing each other down. The relentless pursuit of personal gain, without regard for others, is becoming the norm. We’re more connected than ever, yet we’re more divided. Technology, which was supposed to bring us together, has instead created echo chambers where we only hear our own voices and see our own reflections. We demand our rights but forget our responsibilities. We shout for freedom but forget that true freedom comes with the duty to respect others. The Bible’s warning that “men will be lovers of themselves” seems more relevant than ever.

This self-centeredness is not just a social media phenomenon; it’s infiltrating every aspect of our lives. We see it in politics, where compromise is a dirty word, and winning at all costs is the goal. We see it in our communities, where the common good is sacrificed for individual gain. We see it in our workplaces, where teamwork and collaboration are overshadowed by cutthroat competition. This “me me” mentality is pervasive, and it’s destroying the very fabric of our society. It’s a slow poison, eating away at our ability to empathize, to connect, to see each other as human beings.

Look around you. Families torn apart by political differences, friendships ended over disagreements, communities divided by race, religion, and ideology. We are so busy asserting our own beliefs and rights that we forget to listen to each other, to understand each other. We forget that our strength as a nation comes from our unity, from our ability to come together despite our differences.

Deeper issues are at play here, such as the erosion of trust in our institutions and each other. Misinformation and disinformation spread like wildfire, sowing seeds of doubt and fear. Economic inequality continues to widen, creating a fertile ground for resentment and anger. People feel left behind, unheard, and marginalized, which only fuels the cycle of division. Social media platforms profit from outrage and conflict, amplifying our worst instincts and driving us further apart. By doing so, they influence us to do their bidding inadvertently, turning us into pawns in their game of profit and control.

But there is hope. We have the power to change the course of our nation. It starts with each of us. It starts with a shift in mindset, from “me” to “we.” It starts with recognizing that our rights come with responsibilities, that our freedom is intertwined with the freedom of others. It starts with empathy, with the willingness to see the world through someone else’s eyes. We must remember that our strength lies in our unity, in our ability to stand together despite our differences.

Let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Let’s prioritize love, understanding, and compassion. Let’s break down the walls of division and build bridges of connection. Let’s remember that we are all in this together, that our fates are intertwined. In this divided world, let’s choose unity. Let’s choose to listen, to understand, to empathize. Let’s choose to be better, for ourselves, for each other, and for our future. The choice is ours, and the time to act is now.

—Josh Mullins