Gazette-Mail editorial: An America that is -- and isn't -- recognizable

In June, a gunman killed Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband. On the same day, that same gunman is believed to have shot Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, both of whom survived.

Last year, a shooter tried to assassinate President Donald Trump at a campaign stop in Pennsylvania. An attendee was killed and a bullet grazed Trump's ear.  

And on and on it goes. The easy access to firearms in the U.S. is central to the problem, obviously. Plenty of other issues factor in, depending on the case. 

Wednesday, many politicians and pundits of all stripes denounced political violence, as they should. Political violence is never OK. Neither is opening fire at a school. 

No one really even knows yet if Kirk's shooting is politically motivated. Yes, given Kirk's profession and status, it seems highly likely. But the number of people jumping online to assign blame to this party or that wing of American politics was jarring. 

Online culture also is a huge part of the problem. There is no better breeding ground for blind rage, misinformation and pure hate. Plus, by making people feel like they're part of something while they also become more isolated than ever, social media is the perfect poisonous paradox. 

Bear in mind that, when Republicans and Democrats were banding together Wednesday to denounce political violence and call for cooler heads, Elon Musk got on his social media platform and tweeted "The left is the party of murder." Trump also blamed Kirk's death on "the radical left." 

It's difficult to tone down the rhetoric when individuals like Musk and the president say things that foster more division.   

Even outside the political realm, America seems off-kilter.

Many watched in awe and disgust when a woman began harassing a man in the stands of a baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies after the man had grabbed a home run ball that landed in the stands and handed it to his son. 

Video footage shows the woman throwing a fit, saying "That was mine ... No! You took it from me!" 

Eventually, deciding it wasn't worth being shrieked at, the guy took the ball out of his boy's glove and handed it to the woman, who stomped away. 

Even the Marlins' broadcast team noticed. 

"That is weird behavior," one of the broadcasters said. "You could see [the father's] expression, 'If it means that much to you, here, take it.' It's just weird, you're in front of the kid and you're a grown adult. Don't be a dork.'" 

This story has a happy ending for the kid -- who was at the game for his birthday. He got a bunch of free swag from the Marlins and a signed bat from Phillies outfielder Harrison Bader, who hit the home run. 

Still, the other fan's behavior was inexcusable and really inexplicable. 

It seems as if most of the people of this nation are either seething with anger or on the edge of a nervous breakdown, and any of them could snap at any time to do something cruel, stupid or violent. 

Some have said America today looks unrecognizable to them compared to the country they knew growing up or the ideals this nation is founded upon. They're not wrong.

At the same time, though, it's all too recognizable. The country didn't arrive at this point overnight. Voices have been calling for less-hostile political rhetoric, commonsense gun reform and wariness around social media for a long time. But they've been drowned out by big money, political expedience and the clacking of keyboards as the next online post is launched. 

Nothing happens, people move on, and the temperature is cranked up that much more to produce the next tragedy. Meanwhile, adults behave like petulant children in the chambers of government and the stands of baseball games.

This can't go on ad infinitum. However, the call for sanity is repeatedly beaten back or forgotten. Some say this isn't who Americans are. But one has to wonder about that.