Can rhetoric kill?

There are people that are easily influenced by the opinions of others especially in the political arena.

By Mat Salleh in KL

I guess everybody, even in Malaysia, is aware of the recent happenings in Tucson, Arizona and the shock that has gone through the U.S. after one of its members of Congress was shot and almost killed. Other people were less fortunate and actually lost their lives in that particular shooting. Even though the shooting was without a doubt the work of a deranged and very troubled soul, the question has arisen whether the ongoing political rhetoric and the strong language that both sides use in the US were in any way a factor in the attack. Perhaps the upcoming trial will provide with some answers but even now it goes without saying that in every country there are people that are easily influenced by the opinions of others especially in the political arena.

Being an avid reader of some of the opposition aligned blogs and websites here in Malaysia, one wonders if the strong statements that some of the contributors use towards politicians of the other side do not create a danger that one day an unstable character will actually build up so much hatred or disgust towards one of those politicians that he or she deems it necessary to take violent action.

This fear was triggered further today when I read a comment of one of the readers of Malaysia Chronicle stating that he was willing to become a suicide bomber against politicians of the current government. Perhaps written in jest or out of pure frustration, it is still a statement that should raise some concern.

I am aware that the inflammatory writing takes place on both sides of the great divide here and it is certainly not my intention to point the finger at any particular party or side and of course, like in the U.S., the writers, the commentators, the political pundits all wash their hands in innocence, but perhaps some of them should reflect a bit before it is too late.