Sunny Hostin’s recent shock over the disturbing number of Americans willing to resort to violence against former President Trump reveals a level of disconnect that is both amusing and troubling. The co-host of “The View” seems to have had an epiphany – realizing that her social bubble might not be the healthy environment she thought it was. Hostin’s astonishment at the statistic that 18 million people could endorse violence against a political figure ironically highlights the very culture she and her peers have helped cultivate over the years.
While it’s tempting to direct blame at Hostin and others in the leftist media for their incendiary rhetoric, discussions about the roots of political violence need to go deeper than mere words. Rhetoric fuels the fire, but it is far from the whole inferno. America is undergoing a seismic cultural shift, and the results are anything but encouraging. Over recent decades, society has embraced ideas previously deemed extreme, reshaping the political landscape in baffling ways. Who could have imagined a time when the likes of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, with her radical leftist agenda, could not only be elected but celebrated by a significant segment of the population?
Something More Dangerous Than Rhetoric Is Fueling Political Violence: RedState pic.twitter.com/BexqLIpWta
— Ian Hansen 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHansensX) September 18, 2024
The responsibility for this cultural drift cannot be overlooked. The internet, hailed as a beacon of progress, has ironically become a breeding ground for division. The digital age has made it easier than ever for fringe groups to amplify their voices and distort the narrative. Individuals, emboldened by anonymity, can unleash chaos from behind their screens, rallying massive support for ideas that would have been dismissed as ludicrous mere decades ago. This disconnection fosters a disconnect from reality, allowing extreme views to gain traction among those who may never step outside their ideological bubbles.
Adding insult to this cultural degradation is the alarming decay of once-revered institutions. From the media to law enforcement, the very fabric that held American society together has begun to fray. Mainstream brands that once symbolized the virtues of American identity, such as Disney, have been co-opted by radical agendas that leave traditional values in the dust. With so many influential entities abandoning their foundations, citizens are left to navigate a world where the search for truth has become a daunting task.
At the core of this unrest lies a growing sense of instability — the precisely cultivated soil for revolutions and upheaval. Signs of political violence are merely blossoms from the tree of radicalism that has taken root in American society. Many may not recognize the larger war being waged for the soul of the nation. The upcoming election is just a single front in this battle, but it represents an opportunity to start reclaiming what has been lost.
Restoring America requires fundamental changes. The degradation of trust in institutions must be addressed, and a renewed faith in these cornerstones of democracy is critical if society is to rebound. Equally important is fostering real, in-person connections among people. Relying solely on digital interactions fosters a hostile environment — a far cry from the community and engagement that can lead to understanding, even among those with differing opinions.
If rhetoric is to tone down and violence to diminish, a commitment to normalcy is needed. It’s time for a cultural reset, where the standards that have served civilization well are upheld rather than combated. Individuals like Hostin must self-reflect on the societal standards they endorse. Without meaningful change, America risks spiraling into a turmoil no one truly desires to see.
There is a path forward, but it demands collective effort to restore trust and calm in a world so deeply fractured. Conservative principles rooted in time-tested values are more vital now than ever, especially as powerful forces attempt to silence those advocating for the traditional American way. It is imperative to join the fight for those principles if one wishes to see a peaceful and prosperous future for the nation.