RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2025 | A11
OPINION
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letter: Violence is always ‘tolerated’ in America
From coast to coast, America continues to erode. The senseless shootings in Minnesota of four citizens with ties to the Democratic Party is the latest example of our decay. This resulted in two deaths, and astonishment that the other bullet-riddled victims survived.
Of even more concern is that the individual responsible for the shootings had a “hit list” of 45 officials targeted for harm.
President Donald Trump condemned the shootings in Minnesota with a social media post: “such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America.”
Sorry, Mr. President, you and your predecessors are wrong. America continues to tolerate horrific violence. Any day, a person can use a firearm to solve his/her problems. No immunity exists.
At the heart of this violence is the loss of our civility and respect. We abuse our free speech by bashing and bullying each other on every media platform with hateful, virulent, inciting language. Even more concerning is the loss of our moral conscience. With no hesitancy, we irrationally justify our vitriol.
As an imperfect human, American and Christian, I wonder if any religious influencer who has the ear of President Trump has shared with him this Bible verse from Galatians: “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.”
While there is no law against these qualities, it is clear that self-control doesn’t apply to Americans who commit horrific crimes and our Washington leaders. Both are incapable of applying these values in making decisions.
Helen Keller said: “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight, but no vision.”
Will we have the courage to say enough?
Only if the spirit of our sight and vision returns.
Bill Pike
Henrico
Author’s note: I’m honored that my letter to the editor about the shootings in Minnesota was published in the June 25, 2025 edition of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
might be baloney 
Well said, Bill! You hit the nail on the head!
It seems to me also that the ‘art’ of political science is devoid of civility, common decency and common sense. What will change this cycle? I don’t know. But until then, it is our job to continue to live each day ‘in the will of God’, and display the fruit of the spirit. As we shine the light of Christ, we can pray for illumination for our nation’s leaders. “Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord”!
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Chris, thanks, I love your question. You are correct that light is needed for our eyes and hearts. Be safe.
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