Talke Talks: Don’t shoot | nd-aktuell.de

Howdy from Texas, dear readers, if you already know exactly what this column will be about, then you will be right. There’s also a chance that you’ll find her less funny than usual. I’ll take that risk for once because she’s also less funny. Maybe I’ll make you laugh a few times, but you won’t find anything to shoot here. But back to the facts: Last Saturday afternoon, I was lounging on the sofa, texting a friend, then, like every social media addict does every three minutes, I jumped over to Instagram and saw a video that horrified me . For a moment I even thought it was fake because I couldn’t share it with my girlfriend.

But the news confirmed: The former president of the USA, at the same time the current presidential candidate and very likely the future US president, was actually shot while giving a campaign speech. Screams, ducking, Secret Service. Just a few seconds later, the audience was already chanting “USA” and Trump, who was bleeding from his ear, clenched his fist in victory. The impressive photo of this moment was compared on social networks to the painting “Freedom Leads the People” by Eugène Delacroix. Despite studying art history, I see zero overlap, but what do I know, I’m not even allowed to vote in this country.

The USA is not only the land of opportunity, but also of conspiracy theories. This is where the never-ending story of chemtrails comes from, the bizarre “Birds are not real” movement, the flat-earthers that were a thousand years late, the “9/11 was a fake” supporters infected by the Islamist terror regime, and the Soviet-affinous “The Moon Landing.” was a lie” believers. It is therefore not surprising that the attempted assassination of Donald Trump gave rise to several conspiracy theories: Democrats claimed that the attack was a stunt to make Trump look like a hero; which only confirmed that the 78-year-old looked sprightly, composed and very responsive – unlike incumbent President Joe Biden, who is only three and a half years older. The Republicans accused the Democrats of their rhetoric against Trump leading to the assassination (as if Republican rhetoric à la “Drain the swamp” was known for its level and tact). The fact is: both parties made serious mistakes, supported the wrong candidates, did not put enough political pressure on them when there was an opportunity and acted opportunistically. But what do I know, I’m not even allowed to vote in this country.

Non-partisans and radicals even recognized the conspiracy at the Secret Service: the roof from which the gunman attacked was intentionally not secured. This is very reminiscent of the conspiracy theories surrounding John F. Kennedy’s death, of which I have heard too many – I once lived three minutes from the spot in Dallas where he was shot in 1963. The assassination attempt last week is unfortunately nothing new for this country: four US presidents were killed in attacks, three were injured, and there were also numerous foiled attempts.

But all theories aside: It was once again a crazy American gun nut with no real motive. How many times have we seen this! For example, the crazy murderer who shot 60 people with 24 different weapons out of his hotel room window in Las Vegas in 2017 and whose partner later said she didn’t know why he did it. Or last year, in my favorite small town in the neighboring town of Allen, where a right-wing radical young man with Latin American roots executed eight people, including three children. I could have been among the victims. Trump’s shooter was only 20, considered quiet and unassuming, but shot as a hobby and used his father’s semi-automatic rifle last Saturday. The only thing that would help break this cycle of violence would be stricter gun laws. You see, I know a lot about the USA and can’t wait to finally be able to vote here (and crack jokes again).

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