As a Marine Corps veteran, I want to say the following. Take it as a wish list.
Donald Trump has been lightly wounded in the ear. He could be dead. Such a brush with eternity should give a person pause for a little introspection, time for thoughts about surviving and getting a second chance.
Maybe Trump could have some thoughts about how others who have had experiences with gun violence – 5-year-olds, 1-year-olds, parents of dead students, parents of dead drive-bys – cope with this.
How do we create attitudes that don’t foster these scenarios?
How do military personnel, police, cope with this? How do brushes-with-death incidents affect them? Should our government be doing something about the ocean of armaments that our country is awash in?
How should veterans who have put themselves in harm’s way, while serving our country, deal with being seen as “suckers” and “losers” by a person who was their commander in chief?
Will Trump think to heal that wound?
Will this be life-altering for Trump? So far, it appears not. Will it change his propensity to exhort violence? That would approach being empathetic, not a Trump hallmark trait. He said that being shot changes you.
What will it change in him? Will it change his perspective? Will he take some time for introspection on violence and hate, or continue to barge ahead as if nothing has happened because that is what “real” men do.
What will it take for him to change?
Michael J. Lee
Durango
