The Trentonian (Trenton, NJ)

Rich lives matter more than the poor

- L.A. Parker Columnist L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@ trentonian.com. Follow him on Twitter@ laparker6.

Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa made me sick.

Nothing personal, except the “LIVE with Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest” cohosts take on the shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise delivered a stomach churning equation that certain lives matter more than others. The television couple rightfully voiced upset about the shooting of House Majority Whip Scalise, a Louisiana Republican shot at a congressio­nal baseball game practice Wednesday morning.

Scalise suffered serious injuries and remains hospitaliz­ed while four other victims have been treated and released.

Reality slapped my face as Ripa and Seacrest discussed the shooting.

How terrible. Tragic. Hearts go out to the victims, etc.

U.S. residents express grief about this Alexandria, Virginia, attack based on opinions that violence is not supposed to afflict Caucasian America nor successful minorities who move up to the Eastside.

They are supposed to attend college, marry, raise a family, retire and die of old age, give or take an affair and perhaps a divorce, or two.

Yes, this Scalise attack underscore­s the presence of whackos on either side of political aisles and an assurance that our democracy teeters on selfdestru­ction as fear, now palpable and odorous, moves us toward miserable mistrust.

A world and national media employs manipulati­on as tragedies operate on a scale of skin color, nationalit­y and socioecono­mic status.

No Muslim ban, camouflage­d as a U.S. safety net, can catch all the crazy people walking freely on U.S. streets.

White men tightrope a lunatic fringe while black men meander as powder kegs, tired of missed opportunit­y and angered by systemic injustice.

Rich lives matter more than those saturated in poverty; European-connected people attract attention when terrorists strike their communitie­s.

Terrorist attacks in Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Stockholm and London somehow deserve more attention and heartfelt concern than an explosion in Davao City, Phillipine­s or some Afghanista­n market.

Apparently, the “tragedy” united Republican­s and Democrats who generally enact cutthroat tactics during political war games.

“For all the noise and all the fury, we are one family,” Speaker Paul D. Ryan said. “We do not shed our humanity when we enter this chamber.”

Of course, they do. Republican­s and Democrats, lobbyists and money grubbing capitalist­s have minimal concern or comprehens­ion about struggles outside The Beltway.

They receive a small dose of violence, an everyday occurrence in urban America, and suddenly their lives matter.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, offered “the (Alexandria baseball) field was basically a killing field — it’s really sick and very sad.”

The Paul assessment seemed grossly distorted when one understand­s that no person died in Alexandria as the real “killing fields” and landscapes for murder exist in Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelph­ia and Fort Lauderdale where gunfire and violence delivers blood curdling screams and actual death.

Philadelph­ia began June with seven murders, plus, numerous shootings during a four-day span.

It’s no major deal because black lives don’t matter.

Latino lives don’t matter and poor white lives don’t matter.

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 ?? AP PHOTO/CLIFF OWEN ?? A Capitol Hill Police officer stands watch in Alexandria, Va., Wednesday after a shooting involving House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La., and others, during a Congressio­nal baseball practice.
AP PHOTO/CLIFF OWEN A Capitol Hill Police officer stands watch in Alexandria, Va., Wednesday after a shooting involving House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La., and others, during a Congressio­nal baseball practice.
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