Political violence is a method through which a nation validates its sacred ideal. The purpose of political violence is to generate death or wounds in the name of a sacred entity or ideal. 

The methodology is the same, regardless of the nature of the ideal or entity. One may love the ideal or hate it.

Abraham Lincoln's fundamental objective was to rid the United States of slavery. This required the death of approximately five-hundred thousand Confederate soldiers and five-hundred thousand Union soldiers. 

The death of Confederate and Union soldiers served the same function: confirming or validating the sacred ideal.  In the name of this ideal, human beings forfeited their individual lives.