"When Tragedy Becomes a Battleground: A Plea for Empathy"

By Eric Strickland

This morning, as I sat with my coffee scrolling through countless posts and news articles, I was struck not just by the tragedy that unfolded in Washington, D.C., but by the circus that followed it. The midair collision that claimed the lives of three servicemen and numerous civilians should have been met with solemn respect, with hearts heavy for the families and friends left behind. Instead, it has become yet another political battleground.

Why have we, as a society, devolved into this heartless state where every tragedy becomes politicized? Where our first instinct isn't to offer sympathy, but to point fingers, assign blame, and debate policies like DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) as though they were directly responsible for human error or unforeseen accidents?

Let me be clear—DEI as a practice has its flaws, and there are valid discussions to be had about its implementation. But should we immediately assume it played a role in this tragedy? No. We shouldn't. This knee-jerk reaction to politicize every misfortune strips away the humanity of those involved and dishonors their memory.

To the three servicemen who died—Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves from Noxubee County, Mississippi, who was conducting a training mission as an evaluator pilot; Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara, the 29-year-old crew chief from Gwinnett County, Georgia; and the unnamed female pilot undergoing her annual night evaluation flight—I deeply apologize.

I deeply apologize not just for the tragedy itself but for everything that came after. For the media frenzy. For the endless online debates. For the disrespect to your memory.

I deeply apologize for the suits on TV, pointing fingers and placing blame without understanding the full story. I deeply apologize for the uneducated keyboard warriors, hiding behind their screens, offering baseless opinions on what you "should have done" or "why this happened."

I deeply apologize for the millions of people online who turned this catastrophe into a platform for their political rants, as if politics has anything to do with the precious lives you lived.

These people are talking out of their rearmost orifices, to put it bluntly.

And so, to the families left behind—to Officer Eaves’s wife, who so simply and poignantly asked, “We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today. We ask for peace while we grieve”—you have my prayers, but I deeply apologize.

Peace while she grieves. That’s what she wanted. That’s what we should have given her. But we didn’t. Instead, we Americans took to social media like a swarm of technological drunks, gorging ourselves on "insights" and "expert opinions." The noise we've created has fostered anything but peace.

So, to Sam Lilley, the first officer on American Airlines flight 5432, who was from my own city and county—someone close in age to my own kids—this hits home in a way I can’t fully express. To Capt. Jonathan J. Campos, who was serving as the Captain that day, a dedicated pilot with six years at American Airlines, residing in Ormond Beach, Florida, and an alumnus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

To Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, renowned Russian-born figure skating coaches and former world champions, esteemed members of the figure skating community. To Spencer Lane and Jinna Han, promising teenage figure skaters from the Boston area, returning from a development camp in Wichita. To Asra Hussain, a 26-year-old Indiana University alumna from Carmel, Indiana, holding degrees in healthcare management and health administration. To Lindsey Fields, a biology professor and the president-elect of the National Association of Biology Teachers. To Kiah Duggins, a former Miss Kansas contestant. To the 64 souls aboard the civilian airliner.

To the rescue workers, first responders, and emergency crews who tirelessly plunged into the icy Potomac to recover bodies and search for survivors—I deeply apologize.

This incident has deeply affected numerous communities, including aviation, military, academia, and sports, as they mourn the loss of these individuals.

To all involved, both living and dead, please forgive the idiocy of your countrymen. Please forgive the misguided hatred and the overwhelming noise. We should have done better. We should have been better.

In times of tragedy, our first response should be empathy. Our first words should be of support and solace, not blame and division. Let's remember that behind every headline are real people, with real families, who deserve our respect and compassion.

Let’s strive to be a society that honors the fallen with dignity, not one that turns their memory into a battleground for political gain.

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