The Assassination Of MP David Amess Shows That Lefty Politics Are A Threat To Democracy!!!

The assassination of Conservative MP David Amess is undeniably an attack on democracy. The fact that political violence has taken a disturbing turn is a deeply unsettling reality in British public life.

We have seen far too many violent attacks on public figures since the death of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016. Previously, the assassination of a political person was far simpler to comprehend than the assassination of Jo Cox, David Amess, or a parliamentary aide by a guy targeting Liberal MP Nigel Jones in 2000.

Until recently, the violent killing of every serving MP – Ian Gow in 1990, Sir Anthony Berry in 1984, Robert Bradford in 1981, and Airey Neave in 1979 – was linked to the Northern Ireland conflict. Nobody questioned why they were killed, and there was no need to argue about who was to blame for their awful end.

Acts of political violence in contemporary times, in contrast to the past, frequently spark a dispute regarding accountability and blame. One explanation for this reaction is that it is difficult to comprehend the motivations and behavior of lone wolf murderers who target popular individuals.

What transformed Thomas Alexander Mair, a 53-year-old fantasist, into a cold-blooded murderer? Similar questions will be raised concerning Amess's murderer. It was as though the 25-year-old man detained on suspicion of murder had no desire to flee the scene. According to reports, while waiting to be arrested, he showed no remorse or provided no clues to explain his actions.

The performative nature of political violence in our day distinguishes it. The murder of a politician, Cox, gave a venue for someone like Thomas Alexander Mair to make a statement about who he was. He, like the murderer of Amess, appeared to be making a statement about who he was and what he stood for.

The politicization of identity appears to transform psychologically troubled lone wolves into murderers and terrorists. Cox's assailant was allegedly influenced by white nationalism, whilst Amess's assailant was allegedly influenced by Islamist radicalism. They are both emotionally troubled lone wolves who believe that the personal is political. When people believe that their very identity is at danger and feel the need to affirm it, their behavior becomes severe.

It is impossible to comprehend modern forms of political violence without considering the role of identity politics. Those inclined to cultural politics of identity see the beliefs they oppose as not just objectionable, but also a threat to their own survival. This sentiment is most frequently expressed in the modern day by trans activists who see the inability to acknowledge their identity as a kind of violence. In other – thankfully uncommon – cases, an identity issue drives people to violence.

Unfortunately, the influence of identity politics makes it difficult for society to comprehend what is at the root of the unfortunate deaths of legislators. Political violence is frequently interpreted via the lens of one's identity affiliation. As a result, the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by a right-wing fanatic was quickly portrayed as an unavoidable consequence of Brexit. The true culprit, according to many commentators, appeared to be Brexit politics rather than the murderer.

We live in a world where far too many people react differently to a white extremist murderer than they do to a radical Islamist murderer. And that kind of reaction is extremely dangerous because by holding people who conduct political violence to a different standard, we create conditions in which it can thrive.

One last point. Amess was a vehement Brexit supporter. Hopefully, no one will entertain the ridiculous notion that his murderer's actions were influenced by Remain politics.