Is Violence Eclipsing Our Humanity?
America’s anger is palpable. Systemic inequality, school shootings, and unchecked corporate greed have created a nation on edge. But what happens when frustration turns to violence?
The arrest of Luigi Mangione for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson highlights a troubling trend. Instead of universal condemnation, Mangione became a folk hero to some. Social media celebrated the killing, reducing it to memes and admiration for a shirtless photo of the accused. For many, violence against perceived oppressors of late-stage capitalism is seen as justified.
On the other side, the right’s glorification of vigilantes like Daniel Penny, acquitted in the death of Jordan Neely, exposes another side of this phenomenon. Figures like J.D. Vance and Rudy Giuliani praised Penny, and merchandise bearing his name flooded online shops. The pattern mirrors cases like Kyle Rittenhouse and George Zimmerman—ordinary citizens turned icons for partisan violence.
What unites these extremes is a shared loss of empathy. Whether it’s left-wing celebration of violence against corporate elites or right-wing valorization of vigilantes targeting the marginalized, the message is the same: violence is permissible if aimed at the “right” people.
Social media fuels this trend, reducing human suffering to viral moments. Brian Thompson becomes a symbol of corporate greed; Jordan Neely, of urban chaos. In this digital age, individuals are dehumanized, making empathy a casualty.
Congressman Ritchie Torres warned against this cultural drift: “If elected officials suggest violence against healthcare CEOs is justifiable, what stops others from applying the same standard to us?” Violence, once normalized, spares no one. Today’s victim may be a CEO; tomorrow, it could be a teacher or neighbor.
America’s frustrations are real—widening wealth gaps, faltering programs, and a mental health crisis demand attention. But these systemic failures require systemic solutions, not personal vendettas. Violence doesn’t fix broken systems; it corrodes them further.
We are at a pivotal moment. Will we let anger dictate our future, or will we channel it into meaningful change? The road to justice begins with rejecting violence, embracing empathy, and holding our leaders accountable for real reform. We must remember that every act of dehumanization, every celebration of harm, chips away at the foundation of a just society.
It is time to demand better—of our institutions, our leaders, and ourselves. If we fail, we risk losing more than justice; we risk losing our humanity. The path forward is not easy, but it is clear: confront frustration with action, and replace despair with hope. America’s future depends on our willingness to rise above the chaos and build a society rooted in compassion and accountability.