![Mandalay Bay Hotel [Image via Sacha Bruni/wikimedia commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2017/10/2/660x290/b_502x220x82/mandalay-bay-hotel-image-courtesy-of-sacha-bruni-wikimedia-commons_1606983.jpg "Mandalay Bay Hotel [Image via Sacha Bruni/wikimedia commons]")
The mass shooting that took place in Las Vegas, in which a man named Stephen Paddock open fire on a crowd at a country music concert, has mainly elicited expressions of shock and sympathy. However, as with most tragedies of this sort, what is now being called the Mandalay Massacre has brought out the ugly in some people. The expressions went beyond Hillary Clinton’s attempt to get political.
‘I hope only Trumptards died’
One person on Twitter identified as Ann#TheResistance, a school teacher no less, stated, “Lots of white people in Las Vegas at Route 21 watching Jason Aldean.
I hope only trumptards died.” Others suggested that the shooting was “karma” for Puerto Rico. Another tweet wondered rather snarkily whether President trump would say there were good people on both sides of the shooting.
CBS lawyer has no sympathy because country fans tend to be Republicans
Meanwhile, the Daily Caller is reporting that Hayley Geftman-Gold, described as a top legal executive for CBS, was disdainful of the people whom Paddock mowed down. The theory is that country music fans are often Republicans and Republicans are evil and deserve to die. The ghoulish sentiment seems to be related to the gun control issue. The people at the festival were all “Republican gun toters,” and so they got a good lesson being on the other end of a firearm.
When the elites come to hate the ordinary people
Elites, even in a democracy, have always tended to look down on the common folk, especially individuals who work with their hands, but even people in white collar jobs who did not go to the “right” schools or hold the approved opinions. The Mandalay Massacre suggests that some among America’s elite actually hate the ordinary folks in flyover country and are quite cool with them dying.
The development, to the extent that it is widespread, is an ominous one.
In a constitutional republic, the power of the governing elites to wreak harm on people is limited. Due process has prevented a large amount of injustice.
However, if the opinions expressed above are common (and finding that out would be a useful exercise) among the media, educational, and political elite, the United States is in lots of trouble.
There is a thin line to wishing people one disdains were dead to trying to make that happen. The common folk, who still get to vote, are going to have to be vigilant and never before about who they allow to have power over them. The elites should be reminded that with authority goes responsibility. Expressing the wish that people should die because their politics are different is not responsible.
