Bob CollinsSomething unusual happened on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives late this morning.
Democrats and Republicans stood in a show of unity in the aftermath of what increasingly appears to be a politically motivated attack on members of Congress this morning.
The moment was reminiscent of when the two “sides” stood together to sing God Bless America on September 11, 2001.
House Speaker Paul Ryan led off today’s moment, calling for the United States to show the world we are one people.
“We are united in our anguish. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us,” he said.
A moment later, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi addressed the House saying she was about to do something unusual, agree with the remarks of the House Speaker.
“I pray for Donald Trump, that his presidency is successful, that is family is safe,” she said.
This, of course, did not go over well on Twitter. Pelosi opponents said she was politicizing the moment and would shortly mention gun control.
And now Nancy Pelosi is preaching togetherness. What a crock. We are not one big family, Nancy, and you are certainly not in mine.
— Rocky D (@RadioFreeRockyD) June 14, 2017
The anti-Ryan crowd would offer him no quarter either.
@SpeakerRyan
As a Conservative, I must say … I don't believe a word that comes out of your mouth. You are a careerist and a shill. Retire— Spencer Daniels (@deplorable412) June 14, 2017
This is a day in the life on Twitter, which seems to have become the daily record of American life. Or is it?
In a series of tweets, ironically, NPR’s Sam Sanders maintained Twitter’s view of America isn’t real.
2/ Often the loudest voices n this space r the most hyperbolic, most partisan, most inclined 2 wanna piss somebody off. That's not most ppl.
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) June 14, 2017
4/ 2 see these kinds of conversations as evidence that "America is nastier than ever" would be like accepting horror films as truth.
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) June 14, 2017
5/ Twitter is an exaggeration. Of EVERYTHING: of hatred, love, politics, the speed at which news moves, of partisan divisions, of EVERYTHING
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) June 14, 2017
7/ Feel free 2 incorporate into ur lives as much as you want, but understand that it is ultimately stagecraft – especially on days like this
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) June 14, 2017
It’s hard to say, however, where Twitter ends and the “real” America begins. Long before Twitter, an industry of divisiveness, starting with AM talk radio years ago, enriched itself by creating the brainwashed individuals who daily lead the assault on our sensibilities.
It is too late to put the genie back in the bottle. It will only take a mighty effort to counter that industry’s power. Pretending it doesn’t exist isn’t an answer.
It’s real.
