The tragedy in Orlando has turned into a political stepping stone with many of our leaders are portraying themselves as nothing but shills to a party line.
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Tragedy should not be an opportunity to raise political popularity. Unfortunately, in this political climate, it is. The June 12 shooting at the Pulse night club in Orlando is evidence of just how little either candidate cares for its electorate, relative to their own poll numbers.
The week following this horrific act showed the worst side of both parties. Regardless of the tone used, each candidate used the tragedy to further ridiculous and unhelpful political strategies, in the name of “preventing” these types of atrocities. Here are just two examples.
Families are devastated, survivors are forever changed and our potential “leaders” are so busy making political statements that they seemed to have forgotten to care.
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In this video, filmed shortly after the horrific events in Orlando, Trump suggested suspending immigration from any area known to be combative and terroristic towards the U.S. This is his own political desire and not relevant to the attack at the Pulse night club whatsoever as Omar Mateen was born in the U.S.
In this clip, Hillary Clinton uses the terrorist shooting as an “opportunity” to tout her gun control policy for those on the terrorist watch list, even though the terrorist, who had been investigated twice since 2013 by the FBI, was not on the terrorist watch list. Not to mention the worst terrorist attack in the history of the US was carried out with box cutters, not guns.
The tragedy in Orlando has so quickly turned into a political stepping stone with many of our leaders are portraying themselves as nothing but shills to a party line. Parties that, on both sides, have shown us that our voices do not matter. The Democratic Party has rigged the nomination, using the “Super Delegate” system to steal states from Bernie Sanders, while the Republican Party can’t agree, even within party elites on Trump, blatantly showing us that our voices, concerns and lives amount to little more than numbers to them.
But, in the wake of this tragedy, there is a number that matters. The number 49 represents real people, with real families, who will go on without their loved ones. The number 18 was the age of the youngest victim and the number 50 the age of the oldest. Immigration reform and gun control wouldn’t have stopped the massacre of these fathers, daughters, brothers and sisters. The stories of straight men who were there, learning Latin dancing, and gay men shoving people out of harm’s way all ended that night. Families are devastated, survivors are forever changed and our potential “leaders” are so busy making political statements that they seemed to have forgotten to care.
In November we will be told that we are voting for the future of America, but I say we have that opportunity right now.
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In November we will have the choice to pick the lesser of two evils, people for whom most of us would not have chosen to represent our beliefs. But between now and then we can do one thing which they seem unable to do. We can care for each other. We can love our neighbors. We can buy the homeless man, who we see every day, a lunch that means more to him than all the lunches we will have this week. We can spend an hour with our elderly friends, who built the incredible foundation on which we stand, and we can turn off Fox News and CNN long enough to spend time with our own families, because there are 49 families in Orlando who wish they had the same chance.
In November we will be told that we are voting for the future of America, but I say we have that opportunity right now. Cast your vote for your neighbors, friends and family by loving and giving as much as you can. People aren’t numbers, colors or preferences. We are much more than that. Our “leaders” don’t make us great, they are here to represent our greatness. No policy, bill or president can give that to us, it’s up to us to become it.
In memory of 49 fellow Americans.
Paul Terrell Henry, Edward Sotomayor Jr., Juan Chavez-Martinez, Stanley Almodovar III, Eric Ivan Ortiz Riviera, Juan Ramon Guerrero, Christopher Andrew Leinonen, Brenda Lee Marquez, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, Eddie, Jamoldroy Justice, Deonka Deidra Drayton, Jason Benjamin Josaphat, Alajandro Barrios Martinez, Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, Martin Benitez Torres, Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, Amanda Alvear, Mercedez Marisol Flores, Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, Joel Rayon Paniagua, Cory James Connell, Oscar A Aracena-Montero, Enrique L. Rios Jr., Luis Daniel Conde, Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, Frank Hernandez, Jerald Arthur Wright, Tevin Eugene Crosby, Javier Jorge-Reyes, Darryl Roman Burt II, Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, Gerald A. Ortiz Jimenez, Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, Jean C Nieves Rodriguez, Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, Jean Carlos Mendez, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, Akyra Monet Murray, Miguel Angel Honorato, Shane Evan Tomlinson, Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, Angel L. Candelario-Padro, Leroy Valentin Fernandez, Antonio Davon Brown, Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velasquez, Luis S. Vielma and Kimberly Morris.
Real people.
Also by John Henderson
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Source: 30dB.com – Senate and Gun Control
Looks like the Senate is getting a social media shellacking at 90% negative today on their failure to take any action on gun control in light of the Orlando killings. Given the often close nature of social’s opinions and polling results you’d think our Senators would pay attention. Then again, no reason to ruin their perfect record of ignoring opinion on this issue. — Howard K. 360db
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Photo: Getty Images
This, this is truth! Thanks for sharing this amigo. You have hit this spot on.
Yeah and you have more honest fictional cops and DAs in the movies and TV shows than you have real life cops and DAs.
There is something else important here. This is not about what Hillary Clinton says or what Donald Trump says, although that is interesting and important. This is not about gun control although that is also important. America is at war with ISIS. We attack ISIS and ISIS will attack us. We live in an unreality that leads us to be horrified when we are attacked. We somehow pretend we are not at war. Living in this unreality is not beneficial to us.
Your right about both candidates and their relationship to the party. I would say that trump is the least wrapped into it, hence the lack of support from them, even though he’s running as one and beat out all the rest of the Republicans. Anyway. I want a presidential candidate like Jeff Daniels portrayed in that infamous clip from a show I believe produced by Netflix. Yes I know it’s just a show, and he’s an actor, but it’s the character I’m seeking. Is it possible that no one would dare to tell the truth anymore?
Totally agree! And if we’re voting for a reality show star, why not vote for a movie character?
The more Donald Trump speaks, the more warp he is.
Absolutely spot on John…
Thanks Michael. I wish I weren’t.