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A Fourth Of July Reckoning: Healing Our Nation's Wounds
This Fourth of July, as fireworks paint the summer sky and the scent of barbecue fills the air, let us pause amidst the celebrations to reflect on the true meaning of our nation's independence. This year, the echoes of freedom are tinged with profound sorrow, following the horrific assassinations of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark, and their beloved dog Gilbert, and the attempted assassinations of Senator John Hoffman and his family. These acts of politically motivated violence, as chillingly described by MinneapoliMedia, are not merely local tragedies; they are a stark alarm bell ringing across our nation, demanding a collective reckoning.
The joint statement from the Anoka County Delegation of the Minnesota Legislature, uniting legislators across the political spectrum, offers a vital starting point. "We are all human beings," they declared, a simple yet powerful truth that often gets lost in the cacophony of modern discourse. Their plea for "mutual respect" and an "intolerance of violence" is not a surrender of principle, but a reaffirmation of the foundational tenets of a civil society. Our differences, as they rightly assert, "do not diminish our shared humanity."
Melissa Hortman's life, as eloquently eulogized by Governor Tim Walz, was a testament to the power of principled leadership and the art of compromise. She knew "how to get her way," yet "never made you feel rolled." This "gift," this "grace," is precisely what our fractured nation desperately needs to rediscover. Her commitment to humane legislation – from free school meals to reproductive freedom – speaks to a politics driven by compassion and a genuine desire to improve lives. Mark Hortman, her devoted partner, embodied public service through his quiet intellect and open-door hospitality, reminding us that contributing to the common good extends far beyond elected office. Their home, the "Hortman Hotel," was a microcosm of the civic engagement we should all aspire to.
The Prayer of Saint Francis, which Melissa carried and her son Colin recited at her funeral – "Make me an instrument of your peace" – resonates deeply today. The murder of the Hortmans and the attack on the Hoffmans by Vance Boelter, with his reported list of targeted officials and advocates, was an act of ideological terrorism. It was, as Rev. Daniel Griffith stated, a sign that "Minnesota is now ground zero for political violence and extremism."
But as we grieve, we are also presented with a choice. Do we succumb to the escalating cycle of vitriol and violence? Or do we, in the spirit of Melissa and Mark Hortman, choose a different path – one rooted in "compassion, courage, and common cause"?
This Fourth of July, let us acknowledge that the freedom we celebrate is not merely the absence of external tyranny, but the ongoing cultivation of a society where respectful debate can flourish, where differences are explored rather than exploited, and where violence has no sanctuary. The tragic events in Minnesota serve as a painful reminder that the health of our democracy hinges on our collective commitment to civility.
The founders of this nation, in their wisdom, envisioned a republic built on reasoned discourse, even amidst passionate disagreements. They understood that the pursuit of liberty and justice for all requires a shared civic space where ideas can contend without devolving into personal attacks or, worse, violence.
Let the memory of Melissa and Mark Hortman be a catalyst for change. Let their example inspire us to engage with greater empathy, to listen with more intention, and to speak with a renewed sense of responsibility. Let us not go silent in the face of extremism, but rather, let us honor them by reaffirming the ideals they lived and died for: decency, equity, service, and love.
This Independence Day, as the fireworks explode in brilliant displays of unity and hope, let us commit to rebuilding the bridges of civility that have been eroded by division. Only then can our nation truly be "the land of the free and the home of the brave" – a place where all can thrive, and where the light of democracy, though tested, will never be extinguished.
