Social media is a tool. And just like a hammer, it can be used to build or destroy.

I spend too much time online. I try to justify it by saying that I need social media for what I do.

I use it to promote my real estate business, to push out episodes of the Becka’s Talking podcast, and of course to get information for the columns I write for the Omaha Daily Record.

I’d like to think that I use social media to build.

But I often find myself going down the rabbit hole of people who are using it to destroy.

After the tragic shootings in Minnesota that led to the death of one Democrat Legislator and her spouse and injured another Democrat Legislator and his spouse, I saw many people online picking political sides as to the motive of the shooter.

Before much was known about the alleged murderer, online comments said he was either some radical leftist or an angry MAGA follower.

These people were more concerned with blaming the other political side and promoting their side than they were with the deaths of those people. They were more concerned with casting blame than they were with lowering the political temperature. More concerned with promoting disinformation than they were about the two adult children who lost their parents on Father’s Day weekend.

When President Trump was asked if he was going to call Governor Walz about the tragedy in his state, Trump said, “It would be a waste of time.” He went on to call the governor “sick” and “whacked out.”

Utah Senator Mike Lee tweeted it out like it was some kind of joke. He called it “Nightmare on Waltz Street.” (Yes, he misspelled the Governor’s name.) He added, “This is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way.” There is no evidence that the shooter was a Marxist.

Is it too much to ask that our president and our leaders have some compassion? Some basic human decency? We used to get that from our elected officials. The President helps set the tone for the country. I wish everything didn’t have to be seen as a Red vs Blue issue.

But that’s the sort of stuff I see when I spend my time arguing online. It occupies an inordinate amount of time on the news.

When I take time away from all that, I see a much different world. I see a world with compassion. A world filled with empathy.

Most people are basically good and decent people. And yes, that even means people whose political perspective of the world is different than mine.

I wonder if the people behind the posts I saw online were actually that big of jerks in real life. I wonder what they are like around their family, friends, and co-workers. Do they donate their time or money to worthy causes? Do they smile when they walk past a person who looks different than them? Do they hold the door for a handicapped person struggling to enter a building?

I also wonder why I focus so much on the negativity. The same weekend when I saw the politicized posts about the Minnesota murders, I must have seen countless positive posts.

Facebook pictures of families at the College World Series. Posts with people smiling while peacefully protesting the actions of this administration. Posts of weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays.

Yet I found myself arguing with someone who bought into the narrative that the killer was a false flag liberal trying to blame his actions on MAGA and the far right.

This administration is systematically dismantling the pillars of our country. I am very concerned about the future of America with all that Trump is doing. Almost half the country either supports it or is not paying attention. We must pay attention and speak out.

But it’s also important to pay attention to all the good in the world. I know that it’s hard to see the good sometime with so much focus on the wars and political violence.

Pay attention to legitimate news sources. Be kind to others whether they are wearing a MAGA hat or waving a rainbow flag. Do what you can to help those in need no matter what their nationality is.

You may not know it watching social media, but there are millions of people in this country doing just that. Millions of good and decent people from all walks of life just trying to get by like everyone else.

Social media is a tool. It’s important that we don’t let it make us a tool as well.

Tom Becka is a long time Nebraska broadcaster who for over 30 years has been covering Omaha and Midwest issues on both radio and TV. He has been a guest on numerous national cable and news shows, filled in for nationally syndicated talk radio programs and Talkers Magazine has recognized him as one of the Top 100 talk show hosts in the country 10 times. Never afraid to ruffle some feathers, his ‘Becka’s Beat’ commentaries can be found online on Youtube and other digital platforms.

Opinions expressed by columnists in The Daily Record are not necessarily those of its management or staff, and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Any errors or omissions should be called to our attention so that they may be corrected. Contact us at news@omahadailyrecord.com.