On Thursday night, members of Congress engaged in a friendly, bipartisan game of baseball. Just one day after the tragic shooting that left House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) in critical condition, Republican and Democrat representatives donned purple and gold LSU hats as a sign of their joint support for their injured colleague.
Republicans are warming up! pic.twitter.com/XpHt7HKU7C
— Congressional Game (@thehillbaseball) June 15, 2017
Democratic representative Tom Suozzi's got his game face on. #godems pic.twitter.com/Q1O4AS5YK6
— Congressional Game (@thehillbaseball) June 15, 2017
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: "Tonight, we're all Team Scalise" https://t.co/hdzKAC2Jq6 https://t.co/pH9GbWdmcV
— CNN (@CNN) June 15, 2017
.@SpeakerRyan and @NancyPelosi wearing @lsu colors in honor of injured Louisiana Congressman @SteveScalise https://t.co/MmNqFYlRft
— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) June 16, 2017
Before the game, Republican and Democrat members of Congress gathered on the field to pray as a group.
⚾ Prayers and pitches: Scenes from the #CongressionalBaseballGame https://t.co/AAEuXnJR3M pic.twitter.com/AjXjIHf5sL
— POLITICO (@politico) June 15, 2017
Spectators also honored the Capitol police officers who acted quickly following Wednesday’s shooting, preventing what Rep. Rand Paul (R-KY) said could have been a “massacre.”
found the @SteveScalise section! #congressionalbaseballgame pic.twitter.com/omSo0bSpfa
— kelly cohen (@politiCOHEN_) June 15, 2017
After 3, Dems lead 7-2. #CongressionalBaseballGame pic.twitter.com/ffIUFiJcID
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 16, 2017
Unity was the clear theme of Thursday evening’s event.
The Republican fans are getting excited for the first pitch pic.twitter.com/651lvFL6wH
— Congressional Game (@thehillbaseball) June 15, 2017
The annual congressional baseball game at Nationals Park saw a record turnout, with ticket sales topping $20,000 dollars apiece, WUSA-TV reported. In the end, the event raised more than $1 million for charities including The Washington Literacy Center, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, and The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation.
If there’s one takeaway from the events in Washington this week, it’s that this country is in desperate need of the type of sportsmanship and camaraderie displayed Thursday night.
For some time now, America’s political climate has been characterized by name-calling, slander, and outright hatred among partisan adversaries. The consequences, as the country witnessed Wednesday, have been deadly.
In short, we’ve forgotten how to engage with one another as humans. We’ve forgotten that what unites us is far more essential than what divides us. We’ve forgotten how to set our differences aside to enjoy a cold beer or play a game of ball together.
It’s perfectly fine to acknowledge differing opinions and political ideologies, but if we can first establish a genuine care and respect for our fellow man, we can avoid the sort of vitriol and violence we’ve seen in recent months. In all likelihood, we’ll save lives.