Feelings of Disgust Over What We Have Become

A man is walking in the street on his way to work. He is minding his own business, not disturbing or bothering anyone. Unbeknownst to him he is being stalked. Twenty feet behind him is an armed man who has never met him and is determined to kill him. The stalker proceeds to shoot the victim in the back and flees to another state. Surveillance cameras have taped the entire cold blooded murder. Five days later, the suspected murderer is arrested in a fast food restaurant eating breakfast. A search of his back pack finds, among other items, the murder weapon. Case closed, or is it? This is not a fictional scenario. It happened on December 4, 2024 in Manhattan. Luigi Mangione, scion of a prominent Maryland family, an highly educated graduate of a prep school and an Ivy league university is the accused murderer. The victim was fifty year old Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthCare, father of two, on his way to an investment meeting at the New York Hilton. Until this point it appears to be a simple case of murder. Then, there was the reaction to this crime. That is where the question arises over what America and Americans have become?

At a recent court hearing in Manhattan, supporters of Mangione in some manner have obtained press passes entitling them to enter the courtroom. These "fans", identirying themselves as Mangionistas are celebrating the death of Brian Thompson. They celebrate Mangione as a hero and one of these despicable women was quoted in the news as saying "his children are better off without him". She was further quoted as saying "F---Brian Thompson, that's all I want to say, F---

Brian Thompson, F--- his mom". Other supporters were present wearing "free Luigi" t-shirts.

How are normal, decent people to respond to such statements that murder is okay? How can such behavior be tolerated? Do these people have any empathy for the victim and his survivors? How would they react if it was their loved one who would be the victim of such a crime? The only response I can think of is Boston attorney Joseph Welch's famous comment to Senator Joseph McCarthy: "Have you no sense of decency?" It does not matter how many supporters Luigi Mangione has. He will be tried in both the New York State courts as well as in Federal court. He is presumed innocent until he is convicted. He is not being defended by court appoined public defenders. He has an expensive and experienced criminal lawyer and will have the best defense that money can buy. He is no poor member of the underclass who will have a half or less competent attorney who will recommend a plea deal for an innocent person to rot in prison just to end the case. So let's not worry about Mangione. He will be found guilty or not guilty in due course after trials. What we need to worry about is what kind of nation we are becoming as young people think murder is just fine. Terror is just fine. Or is it? Anybody remember Weather Underground leader Bernardine Dohrn's comments after the Tate-LaBianca murders (1969) by Charles Manson and his gang? Dohrn said the following " Dig it, first they killed those pigs, then they ate dinner in the same room with them, they even shoved a fork into the victim's stomach, wild". Can anyone pretend that these are the words of a mentally normal person? (A fork later became a symbol of greeting for the Weathermen.) Mangione has bachelor and master degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Dohrn graduated from the University of Chicago and its law school. These are the best and the brightest. What did they learn in their elite universities? More importantly, what are generations of students being taught by our university faculties? Do our esteemed professors believe in democracy or are they the heirs of Martn Heidegger and Carl Schmitt, German professors of worldwide repute to this day who were Nazis? The widespread disorders on college campuses that were amalgamations of communist and anti-semitic ideologies leaves one to wonder who the next generation of educated Americans are and where they are headed. Academic freedom and the first amendment should not be considered suicide pacts with democracy and free society. Democratic society ultimately has a right to defend itself. Freedom, democracy and decency are of greater value than the most august academic institutions and the ignoramus "intellectuals" they "produce".

We have other things to be disgusted with. Widespread fraud in programs to help the poor, needy and ill. Hundreds of millions of dollars, cumulatively lost throughout the country over many years add up to billions stolen, as is currently being exposed in Minnesota. This is merely the tip of the iceberg.The kindness of the American people is being abused while the truly needy lack as thieves become rich. Cutting corners and "refined" thievery, have become increasingly common. What kind of society do we want? Liberal Nancy Pelosi, former Democrat Speaker of the House is a multimillionaire who trades on inside informaton as do many of her colleagues of both major parties. There is no other sentiment to be felt other than disgust as our representatives use their honored positions to become rich. They must remember that they are in politics to serve the public, not to becore rich. Many more such affairs can be enumerated but the point has been made.

Disgust is a strong word. Perhaps stronger words are needed. As America celebrates its 250th

anniversary, let us remember the better angels that created this country. Let us also remember that Abraham Lincoln, our sixteenth president, said in his annual message to Congress in 1862: "we shall nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth". So it remains today. But freedom and democracy are not switches that one turns on or off. It is hard work. As this July 4th anniversary approaches, let us re-dedicate ourselves to the decency that we practice and deserve. The Mangiones, Mangionistas, Dohrns and other of their ilk are warnings of what can be. Our response to them and their supporters is to repeat Joe Welch's statement: Have you no sense of decency? Our disgust must be turned into revulsion and action. Decency must triumph.

Garry S. Sklar

Las Vegas, NV

May 22, 2026