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Trump Rally Gunman Was ‘Definitely Conservative,’ Classmate Recalls (www.thedailybeast.com)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 72 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

A former classmate of the 20-year-old man who tried unsuccessfully to kill former President [and convicted felon] Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday recalled him being staunchly to the right of the political spectrum. “He definitely was conservative,” Max R. Smith told The Philadelphia Inquirer of Thomas Crooks. “It makes me wonder why he would carry out an assassination attempt on the conservative candidate.” Smith shared an American history class with Crooks, and remembered a mock debate where their teacher made students stand on one side of the classroom or another to signal their allegiance. “The majority of the class were on the liberal side, but Tom, no matter what, always stood his ground on the conservative side,” Smith said. “That’s still the picture I have of him. Just standing alone on one side while the rest of the class was on the other.” Crooks died in the assassination attempt. Trump, who suffered a minor injury to the ear, was “fine” Sunday after being treated at a local medical facility, his campaign said. One audience member was killed and two others critically injured amid the gunfire.

[–] Kecessa 126 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (4 children)

That's kind of fucked up, asking kids to tell their political allegiance... In debates we were assigned an opinion and had to defend it no matter what our personal opinion was to make us understand how to build arguments...

[–] [email protected] 67 points 4 months ago (2 children)

When I was in 8th grade, at a Catholic private school.... I was the only person who preferred liberal. During the debates we had, I won over a majority of my classmates with my arguments in favor of doing things how Jesus would behave. I won the debate but the teacher didn't recognize my success. It was actually very illuminating at the time and has stayed with me all my life. Hardcore conservatives will choose reactionary ideas over their religion.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 4 months ago

I had a similar experience in middle school when my parents signed me up for CCD (after school program to get you ready for Catholic confirmation). I considered myself a Christian until then and was looking forward to the program....until my non-combative questions about applying Jesus' teachings to the real world were dismissed and I saw the cult mentality I had fallen for.

Weirdly enough, the final nail in the ~~wrist~~ coffin was when I asked my teacher how he knew that What Dreams May Come was not an accurate representation of pergatory and he said "it just isn't."

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

I agree.

I get that Lemmy is super liberal, but this kind of mentality is toxic. It results in a generation that is unwilling to question their beliefs, leans into mob mentality, and doesn't see the need to understand and articulate political beliefs you support.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago

We never had debate, but in a performance acts class once we were asked our opinion on something and then would have to defend the opposite opinion.

It was nothing so blatantly polarising as only one person on one side though.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I had to argue that some babies are evil and people legit goy angry at me.

[–] Kecessa 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

All kids are evil

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

They're just little ids.

[–] Kecessa 1 points 4 months ago

And then they kick you in the nuts for the lulz

[–] zaph 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Smith shared an American history class with Crooks, and remembered a mock debate where their teacher made students stand on one side of the classroom or another to signal their allegiance.

Please tell me this was college.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

In college it's assigned and you're expected to defend the assigned position. You also get switched in subsequent issues modules so you don't get pigeonholed and nobody can just stay on the side they like.

[–] zaph 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yeah that's how I experienced it but it sounds like this story was from high school and telling students to segregate themselves like that seems super fucked up.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

I agree, that's basically asking someone to other themselves. It would be a great test if you wanted to see which students needed support and counseling. But not as some kind of learning objective.