What if Assassins Had Been Writers Instead?

           

Facebook. Damned Facebook. Mouse over to the notification “Bell”.

“Trump rallies in Pittsburg ongoing.”

Click on a live video before my eyes. A crowd of Secret Service personnel is ushering Trump away Trump appears to be almost combative with the agents as he is led into the open, a waiting SUV. Other Secret Service agents surround the vehicle with pistols drawn and ready. Eventually, the agents get in and drive away.

What’s happening?

Slowly, the story and unseen footage emerge of not just a single shot wounding Trump, but at least two other victims struck down during the assault.

Finally, the identity of the shooter emerges: twenty-year-old, Thomas Michael Crooks of Bethel Parks, PA. a registered Republican voter. The Secret Service, bless their hearts, intervened shooting him dead before any more damage could have been done.

I saw the footage, read the online comments just like almost everybody else, and after coming to myself with the admission that this is not anything I would want to see happen, regardless of how much I hate the man Donald Trump, the self-absorbed con-artist convicted of 34 separate felony counts of fraud. The man who incited a mob to attack the police standing guard at the capitol building with the intent of interrupting and overturning the constitutionally mandated ballot count.

A friend once said that Trump, “…must be a real estate genius considering how much room he currently occupies in everybody’s head”. I realized my friend was right. The annoying fucker was spending an awful lot of time up there. His reign of terror lasted for four years ending with Joe Biden pronouncing him as one of the worst presidents we have ever had.

Before the identity of the would-be assassin came to light, a few Republicans were already touting conspiracy theories of their own choosing. Florida’s Rick Scott announced to the world, “This was an assassination attempt by a madman inspired by the rhetoric of the radical left.”

Marjorie Taylor Greene accused the Democratic Party of  attempting to murder President Trump.

J.D. Vance, one of several Republicans who blamed President Biden for the attempted assassination said, “The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.”

Another Republican voice, who shall remain nameless said,  "Joe Biden sent the orders."

Knowing now that statements like that can make the rounds while being both baseless and hurtful it makes you wonder what the motives of the shooter were. He wasn’t a puppet of the “Deep State,” he held a Republican party registration card while sporting a T-shirt from the “Demolition Ranch”, an extreme gun rights group.

A far-right gun toting extremist who has almost no social media exposure attempted to assassinate the presumed Republican presidential candidate, while also hitting three people, killing one, and injuring two.

What were his motives? Why would he want to do this? I don’t know. The FBI says the investigation remains open. We won’t know until we find something he wrote or hear from someone he talked to.

Which brings us to the title of this piece, What if Assassins Were Writers Instead? Why are people so prone to pull out a weapon to shoot other people whom they disagree with?

Authorities say that Crooks laid in wait for Trump while on top of a nearby building, waiting hours for the former president, 34 count felon to appear at a rally that was heavily hyped on social media weeks prior. This would seem to bear a resemblance to the JFK assassination at first glance, except that Lee Harvey Oswald, Kennedy’s assassin had military training with firearms. He was disciplined enough to hit his target while leaving only one secondary casualty. The then governor of Texas, Connoly was hit in the lungs by a stray bullet. That can be chalked up to firing at a moving vehicle from several hundred yards away. Kennedy was killed while riding in the back seat of an open-topped limousine.

Why the hell did Oswald want to kill the president of the United States? We know that Oswald had attempted to defect to the Soviet Union and returned to the U.S. before inexplicably killing a U.S. president.

The true motive behind Lee Harvey Oswald's assassination of President John F. Kennedy has been the subject of extensive investigation and speculation since the event occurred on November 22, 1963. Despite numerous theories, no definitive motive has been universally accepted. However, several factors and theories provide potential insights into Oswald's actions:

Personal and Political Background

1. Political Beliefs

Oswald had a history of leftist political beliefs. He defected to the Soviet Union in 1959 and returned to the United States in 1962 with a Russian wife. His political ideology was pro-Marxist, and he was an avowed communist.

   - He was involved with pro-Castro and anti-Castro groups and had a history of participating in political activities, including distributing pro-Cuba leaflets.

 

2. Disillusionment and Alienation:

Oswald was reportedly disillusioned with both the Soviet Union and the United States, feeling out of place and not fitting into either society. This sense of alienation may have contributed to his radical actions.

Psychological Factors

1. Personal Issues:

Oswald had a troubled upbringing and a difficult relationship with his family. His psychological profile suggests he had a desire for recognition and a sense of importance, which might have driven him to commit a high-profile act.

2. Search for Identity:

Some psychologists have suggested that Oswald's actions were a means to assert his identity and gain notoriety. His move from the U.S. to the Soviet Union and back, and his various political activities, indicate a person struggling to find a significant role or purpose in life.

Conspiracy Theories

1. Multiple Theories:

Over the years, many conspiracy theories have emerged suggesting that Oswald did not act alone or was influenced or directed by other entities, including the CIA, the Mafia, anti-Castro Cubans, or even Lyndon B. Johnson. The lack of a clear motive has fueled these theories.

2. Warren Commission Findings:

The Warren Commission, established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and that there was no evidence of a conspiracy. However, this conclusion has been contested by various researchers and theorists.

Key Incidents

1. Walker Shooting Incident:

Prior to the Kennedy assassination, Oswald was involved in an attempt to shoot retired General Edwin Walker, a right-wing figure, in April 1963. This act suggests that Oswald was willing to use violence to advance his beliefs.

2. Behavior Leading up to the Assassination:

Oswald's actions in the weeks leading up to the assassination, including his attempt to travel to Cuba and his employment at the Texas School Book Depository, where he had access to the assassination site, indicate premeditation.

The true motive behind Lee Harvey Oswald's assassination of President Kennedy remains complex and multi-faceted, involving a combination of personal, political, and psychological factors. While the official investigation concluded he acted alone, the lack of a clear motive has led to numerous alternative theories. Oswald's political beliefs, personal issues, and quest for recognition likely played a significant role in his decision to commit the act.

Here is where I come in: If Oswald had turned to a typewriter, instead of a rifle he could have found an outlet for his frustration and rage. He could have had his thoughts published in various magazines, newspapers, and newsletters available for consumption in the 1950s and 1960s.

A similar situation could have been available to Sirhan Sirhan, the murderer of Robert F. Kennedy. Sirhan Sirhan's motives for the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 have been a subject of much speculation and analysis. Here are some key points about his motives:

Sirhan Sirhan,was a Palestinian Arab, who was reportedly angry about Robert Kennedy's pro-Israel stance. Kennedy had expressed support for Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, which may have inflamed Sirhan's passions given his own background and the broader Middle Eastern conflict.

Sirhan's diaries and writings revealed a deep-seated hatred towards Kennedy. He had written repeatedly about his desire to kill Kennedy, often in what appeared to be an almost obsessive manner.

There is also evidence to suggest that Sirhan might have been suffering from mental health issues. His behavior and writings have led some to believe that he was not fully in control of his actions or that his mental state significantly influenced his motives.

Numerous conspiracy theories have emerged over the years, suggesting that Sirhan was manipulated or influenced by others. Some theories suggest that Sirhan was a pawn in a larger conspiracy involving mind control or that there were other gunmen involved. However, these theories have not been substantiated by conclusive evidence.

Over the years, Sirhan has given various explanations for his actions. At times, he has claimed to have little or no memory of the assassination, which has fueled further speculation about his mental state and potential external influences.

Despite the various theories and explanations, the precise motives behind Sirhan Sirhan's assassination of Robert F. Kennedy remain a complex and debated topic. The intersection of political, personal, and psychological factors all appears to have played a role in the tragic event.

In case you’re wondering, I’m the guy that likes to live in a world of what-ifs. Once again, what if these awful people had an outlet other than a gun? What if instead of turning your anger and frustrated angst into a violent intent armed with a weapon of capital punishment, how about releasing that same angst into a blog or video, journal or diary? Why not write about the problems you see around you instead of grabbing the nearest weapon to take vengeance upon the target of your frustration and simply write about the problems you would like to solve and encourage a solution doesn’t require a lethal outcome. Exercise your First Amendment rights (free speech, press, and association instead of what you feel are your Second Amendment rights (bearing arms in a well-regulated militia).

Finally, you will have to agree how much easier it is to clean up the mess left behind by someone who erred while exercising their first amendment rights (liable, character defamation) than someone improperly exercising their Second Amendment right (murder, assault).

I’m not asking for much, just urging more people to put their weapons away and pick up their phones and computers instead.

Thank you for reading this far.

Full disclosure: this piece was written with the aid of artificial intelligence. All claims, however, have been verified to ensure accuracy.

References:

Posner, Gerald. (1993) Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK. Random House.

Warren Commission Report, Chapter 7. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-report/chapter-7.html

John Newman. (1995). Oswald and the CIA: The Documented Truth About the Unknown Relationship Between the U.S. Government and the Alleged Killer of JFK. Carroll & Graf Publishers.

Warren Commission Report, Appendix XII: Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-report/appendix-12.html

Mailer, Norman. (1995). Oswald's Tale: An American Mystery. Random House,.

Epstein, Edward Jay. (1978). Legend: The Secret World of Lee Harvey Oswald. Random House.

Priscilla Johnson McMillan. (1977). Marina and Lee. Harper & Row.

Warren Commission Report, Chapter 7. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-report/chapter-7.html

Bugliosi, Vincent. (2007). Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. W.W. Norton & Company.

The House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) Report. (1979). Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/select-committee-report

The Warren Commission Report. (1964). Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-report.

Warren Commission Report, Chapter 4. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from: https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/warren-commission-report/chapter-4.html

Bugliosi, Vincent. (2007). Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. W.W. Norton & Company

Turner, T., & Christian, C. (2006). Robert F. Kennedy: Assassination and Aftermath. Google Books. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://books.google.com/books?id=I71yDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA66&lpg=PA66&dq=sirhan+sirhan+rfk+assassination+motives

BBC News. (2018). RFK assassination: Sirhan Sirhan denied parole again. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45251912

The Guardian. (2018). Sirhan Sirhan and the assassination of RFK: What did he do and why? Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/05/sirhan-sirhan-rfk-assassination-robert-f-kennedy

Kurland, G. H. (2006). Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Rosen Publishing Group. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://books.google.com/books?id=pXtHAnmQ8uUC&pg=PA67&lpg=PA67&dq=sirhan+sirhan+mental+health+robert+kennedy

CNN. (2016). RFK's assassin challenges California parole denial. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/11/us/robert-f-kennedy-sirhan-sirhan-parole/index.html

BBC. (2018). RFK assassination: The questions that won't go away. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44338063

The Washington Post. (2018). The enduring mystery of the RFK assassination. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/06/05/enduring-mystery-rfk-assassination/

The Los Angeles Times. (2018). RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan seeks parole, saying he can't remember the killing. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-sirhan-sirhan-parole-20180118-story.html)

NPR. (2016). RFK's Assassin Sirhan Sirhan Denied Parole. Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/02/10/466131405/rfk-s-assassin-sirhan-sirhan-denied-parole