By A while back, I was welcoming home a National Guard unit that had been overseas. After the ceremony, a sergeant who had been deployed three times, including twice to an active combat zone, thanked me for my service, saying he couldn’t imagine a post so difficult.
I was speechless.
We know politics is too jagged, too mean, too combative when those who’ve risked their lives in the defense of our country think political engagement is the tougher duty.
Rep. Dusty Johnson, Guest Columnist
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The tragic events that unfolded at the Donald Trump rally are the horrific picture of our national political climate. We’ve all felt the tension rising the last several years, and we know the temperature and hateful rhetoric has gone well over its boiling point.
Too often, we view those with differing opinions as enemies rather than fellow Americans. Our country is not well-served by that. Anger is a powerful short-term motivator, but not a foundation for successful marriages, churches, businesses, communities or careers.
We must have thoughtful discourse among engaged citizens, not emotional attacks of enraged partisans. Here are suggestions for those willing to rise to the occasion:
Provide the benefit of the doubt: Relationships fail when couples stop assuming the best in each other. I’d like our country to stay together for a while longer, even if it’s just for our kids. We can’t assume the other side is always motivated by racism, fascism, communism or some other evil -ism. Give them the benefit by assuming they view an issue differently than you do.
Subscribe to reputable news sources: Facebook is not a reputable news source. It’s home to adorable puppy photos, cute dance videos and wildly unreliable news posted by your Uncle Trent. Too often, free news, especially the kind shared on Facebook, fuels our fear, anger and outrage. Instead, find two professional news sources, pay for their content and consume it regularly. If sources only tell you what you already believe, you are paying for propaganda, not news.
Reject whataboutism: Rather than engaging on the specific merits of an issue, an online commenter will say “what about this,” and point to a past mistake of the other side in an attempt to discredit their view. This diverts the discussion of issues. We should evaluate the merits of an argument, not the imperfections of its messenger. No one is perfect, therefore, good ideas come from flawed people.
Criticize actions and ideas, not people: Insults abound in political discourse, but you’ll be a better citizen if you avoid them. We should have robust and spirited debates. Attacks on weak ideas and improper actions can be done without labeling someone evil, crooked or a traitor.
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Amplify constructive views: Facebook and X/Twitter can be steaming dumpster fires of outrage. Support those trying to be constructive by using logic rather than bile. It can be as simple as giving their comment a thumbs up. It’s more fun to retweet an angry hot take, but it’s better for our nation if you share something productive. Politics must be about addition and multiplication, not subtraction and division.
Illegitimi non carborundum (Don’t let the bastards grind you down): Even when you are overwhelmed by negativity, don’t give up. Politics is not a spectator sport. If the respectful citizens allow negativity to drive them out, the trolls win.
Terrible tragedies, like the assassination attempt on Trump’s life, can serve as a catalyst for our nation to come together. I’m ready to do my part. I know I can’t change everything overnight, but I hope my actions move the needle in the right direction. I hope yours will, too.
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., is in his third term in Congress. He previously served on the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission and as chief of staff for Gov. Dennis Daugaard.