Alleged murderer Luigi Mangione’s defense fund exceeded $1.36 million in donations this week as assassination culture continues infecting American minds.
A shocking number of people defended Mangione last December after he allegedly shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson to death on a Manhattan street. The insurance executive’s slaughter, Mangione fans argue, was an appropriate, necessary response to insurance companies’ greed.
Justifications like these are a product of assassination culture — an ideology which accepts and glorifies political violence against the rich, powerful and politically conservative.
Assassination culture poses a grave threat to the moral and social fabric of America.
A growing number of American adults feel political violence can be at least partially justified in some circumstances, per a recent survey conducted by the Network Contagion Research Institute and Rutgers University’s Social Perception Lab.
The survey concluded failure to “explicitly confront and condemn” assassination culture would result in “real-world escalation.”
Five months later, a gunman assassinated Charlier Kirk. His alleged killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, claimed he’d “had enough” of the conservative leader’s “hatred.”
Parents can turn the tide against assassination culture and protect their kids from radicalization in these four ways.
Parents must prevent their children from consuming online content promoting assassination culture.
All social media platforms and online discussion forums contain echo chambers glorifying political violence. Spending time in these ecosystems — even accidentally — can significantly change a person’s values.
In their survey on Americans’ attitudes toward political violence, the Network Contagion Research Institute and Social Perception Lab found respondents who spent time on BlueSky, a left-leaning social media app, were more likely to justify political violence.
Children and teens’ developing brains make them even more vulnerable to accepting and regurgitating ideas they consume on the internet.
Parents must emphasize the importance of making good choices, taking responsibility and relying on God in times of trouble. These principles help children form an internal locus of control — the belief that an individual’s choices shape their life outcomes for good or for bad.
People with an external locus of control, in contrast, believe an individual’s choices don’t affect their life circumstances. They feel powerless, constantly buffeted by people and forces beyond their control.
This worldview can make extreme “solutions” to perceived powerlessness seem justified. In their survey, the Network Contagion Research Institute and Social Perception Lab found people with an external locus of control more likely to justify political violence.
The Bible teaches believers to form an internal locus of control founded, not on their own strength, but on God’s Word and His indwelling presence.
In Joshua 1:9, God tells Joshua:
“Mangione had the chutzpah to actually do something spectacular, which certain people find attractive and courageous,” New York University Professor Jeff Goodwin told The Wall Street Journal this week.
Parents must not allow ideologues like Goodwin to direct their child’s education.
Not all teachers disclose their biases so freely. Some even encourage children to hide what they learn at school.
Parents can ferret out problematic classroom ideology by being hands-on with their children’s education, including asking what they learned in school, reviewing take-home materials and speaking up about inappropriate content.
Assassination culture promotes a parody of justice. Parents must teach their children to love and pursue biblical justice, instead.
Biblical justice is:
- Impartial and upholds the rights of all people. (Leviticus 19:15, Chronicles 19:7)
- Closely associated with righteousness. (Job 8:3, Psalm 89:14, Psalm 106:3)
- Opposed to sin. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
These passages illustrate the importance due process and proportionate punishment in upholding righteous justice. They also emphasize justice cannot be achieved through sinful means.
The Bible also differentiates between justice and vengeance.
While only God can dispense perfect justice, He expects humans to make just judgements (Zechariah 7:9) and defend the rights of others (Proverbs 31:89).
Vengeance — giving an evil person their due — is God’s province alone. Only He has the wisdom, moral standing and clarity to exact perfect vengeance.
Romans 12:19, drawing from Deuteronomy 32:35, reads, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”
In 1 Samuel 24:12, David addresses his persecutor, King Saul:
Assassination culture requires humans to exact vengeance and robs victims like Brain Thompson and Charlie Kirk of due process and proportionate punishment. Children trained in the love and knowledge of biblical justice will not fall for the cheap alternative offered by assassination culture.
Mangione’s mushrooming defense fund demonstrates assassination culture’s growing influence. Parents have the power to stop its spread.
Godspeed!
To learn more about problematic ideology in the classroom, download Focus on the Family’s free resource, Equipping Parents for Back-to-School.
Focus on the Family offers tips for parenting in the digital age.
Additional Articles and Resources
3 Reasons to Pay Attention to Your Child’s School
Charlie Kirk’s Accused Assassin and His Links to Transgenderism.
‘Assassination Culture’: Many Believe Killing and Destruction Are Justified
Mangione Defense Fund Inexplicably Passes $150K
Luigi Mangione: Alleged Killer Apprehended With All-Too-Familiar Manifesto
Lorenz Feels ‘Joy’ at UnitedHealthcare CEO’s Execution
Many Parents Still Fail to Monitor Their Kids’ Online Activity, Survey Shows