In this essay for The Atlantic, Elliot Ackerman reflects on the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and argues that American politics must not become so personal that political disagreement turns into violence.
Drawing on his experience as a Marine officer in Fallujah, Ackerman connects the sacrifice of his friend Dan Malcom to the enduring importance of elections, democratic legitimacy, and the peaceful transfer of political power.
Political Violence and Democratic Responsibility
Ackerman argues that both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have a responsibility to lower the temperature of the 2024 presidential race and reaffirm that violence has no place in American politics.
Fallujah, Elections, and Sacrifice
The essay recalls the Iraq War and the first Iraqi elections, using the image of ink-stained fingers to contrast democratic participation with the use of force to settle political disputes.
Lowering the Volume
At its center, the piece warns that when politics becomes lethally personal, a democracy risks betraying those who sacrificed for the principle that a nation’s future should be decided at the ballot box.