Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump must serve as a wake-up call to our nation.

Our rhetoric and descriptions of those we disagree with politically have reached poisonous levels. There are scores of reports in recent years of elected officials being threatened. An angry mob stormed our Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, seeking to overturn an election. On Saturday, during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, an assassin fired multiple shots at the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

Social media is a cesspool of political bickering and posturing. Media outlets have contributed to the division through hyperbole and stereotypes.

Political violence is out of control, and it must be stopped if our country is to have a future. We cannot spew hatred and expect peace. We must not allow politics to drive a stake through the heart of democracy. Weaponizing our beliefs only leads to violence and revenge. Though our country has never been perfect, this current path isn’t the American way.

Our leaders are a reflection of us. Let’s start by considering what we say, write and post. Words matter. Words influence perception, and perception becomes reality.

A person isn’t your enemy because of a political choice. This is a strong nation. We have lived through four years of a Trump presidency and are nearing the end of four years of a Joe Biden White House. There have been problems in both administrations, yet we’re still here. We’re still the envy of millions of people around the world, which is why so many world leaders have expressed concern and dismay about what’s happening here.

We must force our elected officials to bring our nation back together, and we do that in part by showing political parties that we’re Americans before we’re Democrats or Republicans.

Self-inflicted wounds are the biggest threat to our country. We can attempt to heal those wounds, or we can continue to cut deeper until we slice our nation apart.

NEWS AND TRIBUNE EDITORIAL BOARD