The perils of reflexively politicizing tragedy

On The New York Times' galling faceplant

A balloon tied to the door of Rep. Steve Scalise's office.
(Image credit: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

The frightening shooting at a congressional baseball practice on Wednesday shook up Washington and the nation — and rightly so. As many pointed out, the Congressional Baseball Game stands out as a rare example of bipartisan amity in our hyperpolarized times. It was a heartbreaking symbol to see it struck by tragedy. But as always when we see humanity at its worst, we also saw glimmers of light, those examples of the human spirit at its best: a police officer running down the shooter even while wounded, Democrats praying for their Republican colleagues, and lawmakers heroically caring for a wounded colleague.

Still, it now seems to be a rule that every tragedy will be immediately politicized — by both sides.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry

Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry is a writer and fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. His writing has appeared at Forbes, The Atlantic, First Things, Commentary Magazine, The Daily Beast, The Federalist, Quartz, and other places. He lives in Paris with his beloved wife and daughter.