the right-wing hate machine created a monster and handed him a weapon of mass death
they taught him well and then they set him loose
they taught him well.
they put weapons in the hands of their own children and posed for Christmas cards.
they ran campaign ads in which they “hunted” their opponents.
they opened gun-themed restaurants.
they fell all over themselves to see who could pose with the biggest gun.
they did ridiculous gun-related political stunts.
they told him to be afraid.
they told him that his enemies were everywhere.
they told him to be vigilant and ever-watchful.
they told him that Democrats were the problem.
they told him that the media was the problem.
they told him that women were the problem.
they told him that minorities were the problem.
they told him that immigrants were the problem.
they told him that gays were the problem.
they told him that trans people were the problem.
they told him that Jews were the problem.
they told him that drag performers were the problem.
they told him that teachers were the problem.
they created algorithms and media outlets that fed him a steady diet of hate.
they created a culture where guns meant might, right, and manliness.
they repealed laws that impeded easy access to weapons of mass death.
they voted down money for mental health programs.
and they never stopped reminding him that guns were the answer to his problems.
and now that the awful deed is done, and we’re learning more about the shooter and his beliefs, the right-wing ecosystem of hatred that created him want to pretend they had nothing to do with it.
they want to pretend that their hands are clean.
they want to pretend that this is just one of those random things that happened, that nobody could have predicted it, that no one could have stopped it, and that nothing can be done to prevent it from happening again. I mean, whatcha gonna do?
they want to move on.
fuck you.
the blood is all over your hands.
and you’re not fooling anyone but yourselves.
we see you.
You’ve earned my vote for short-form Pulitzer. Or Nobel Prize.
Wow, that says it all beautifully. Thank you.