Luigi Mangione murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4th of 2024. It was caught on video, and, at some point, he admitted to the act, although later, he pleaded not guilty. In the 2+ month period since, over $300,000 has been raised for his defense, which his lawyers say is, “to provide answers to frequently asked questions, accurate information about his cases, and dispel misinformation.” Nowhere could I find anything that said, “Because he is innocent.” I am sure that is somewhere, just not in the 10 sources I looked at. Sure – he is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. He will have his day in court. Still, why? Why are so many people supporting him?
I get that people are angry about the state of health insurance (it really isn’t insurance, is it?), and that the uber-rich executives of these get-rich grifts are getting richer while people like you and me are being denied life-saving care, but what kind of person sends money to support someone like Mangione? A person who looks just like him, wearing the same coat he owned, shoots a man in the back – which is caught on video – then runs for it, is arrested – and you think, “Poor guy – he needs my support”? I know that most Americans have not jumped to his defense, which is good, but how is it that so many people have such a warped sense of justice that this much money could be raised for his legal fees? And that doesn’t include the rallies and letters of support and public displays of affection he has received. It makes my head hurt.
It is a reminder that morality, or, at least, personal concepts of right and wrong, are broad and diverse, and we can never assume that we all can agree on anything completely. Moral codes are important, but they are also as individual as we are, and there is no rule that we can find 100% agreement on. This is also why large groups of people can support terrorists, tyrants, and maniacs bent on destruction. For the rest of us, let’s keep focused on what’s best for all of us, and use our resources for good, not evil. That’s the only way we can keep moving forward. Because moving backward won’t get us anywhere.
Prayer – Merciful God, forgive our foolish ways, and guide us on Your path. Amen. Today’s art is “Receiving the Light of morality, spirituality, and Philosophy” by Ari Roussimoff.