EDIT: Conversation and compassion over conflict and comment sections

Violence has no place in our communities. Yet if we truly want to prevent it, we must change how we engage with one another. 

The tragic events in Wallace on December 26 revealed both the best and worst of our community. While the motive behind this shocking attack remains unclear, it is evident that the individual responsible was deeply troubled. 

In the immediate aftermath, the outpouring of support from surrounding communities was swift and overwhelming. We are profoundly grateful to the brave men and women who ran toward danger to protect others. 

But what followed in the days after is where we must begin to repair ourselves. Many residents, particularly those in downtown Wallace, stepped up to support affected businesses, families, and the Sheriff’s Department. Unfortunately, others chose a different path, using tragedy as an opportunity to exchange personal and political attacks, both in person and across social media. 

Comment sections that should have been reserved for well-wishes and safety updates became battlegrounds. Instead of checking on one another, too many community members opted to fight with one another. 

Somewhere along the way, perhaps in the past two decades, we lost the ability to communicate with those we disagree with. Rather than seeking common ground, we fixate on differences and defend them with fervor. In doing so, we change no one’s mind and isolate ourselves further. 

If we fail to restore civil discourse and genuine connection, we risk seeing more tragedies like the recent shooting in Wallace or the heartbreaking events on Canfield Mountain in Coeur d’Alene last summer. 

Not saying that communication was the sole or primary reason for these events, but somewhere down the line, communication failed these people, and we’ve lived in the aftermath of their actions.  

The solution begins with simple steps: take a break from social media, go outside, attend a high school ball game, or visit a local event. Engage with your neighbors face-to-face. Tell them you’re glad to see them. Wish them well. These small gestures can make a profound difference, for you and for those around you. 

Violence begins where communication ends. Let's choose connection over division, because the future of our communities depends on it.