The first presidential election I remember was Adlai Stevenson vs Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. I was in the second grade, and I wore a “Don’t vote madly; Don’t vote for Adlai.” I didn’t know anything about either candidate. I just liked the rhyme.
The point is, I’ve seen a lot of elections. I’ve witnessed a lot of back and forth between candidates. But never have I seen anything like this election cycle. And I’m not talking about the candidates. I’m talking about the supporters. The blatant public displays of racism, misogyny, and absolute hatred on the Trump side have literally sent shivers down my spine.
I’ve always thought that people were basically good. I’m always ready to give someone the benefit of a doubt. But what I’ve witnessed, both on the news reports and among people I know, has shaken that belief. Do so many people really bear such deep seated anger, and just go through daily life never expressing it? Are we all just a few societal rules away from barbarism?
How did political discourse turn into hate speech? What is it that has prompted people to give in to their basest urges, and demand the public humiliation, disgrace, and even death of the opposition candidate? Has Trump activated some lizard-brain instinct in his supporters that has long been dormant? His rally-goers do not seem to be there to cheer their candidate and sing his praises. They are like angry mobs ready to unleash mayhem on those he points out as their enemies.
By tomorrow night, there will be a winner and an also ran. Will all the vitriol and gnashing of teeth then stop? If Trump loses, will the crowds, whipped into a frenzy of hatred for so long, just simply go back to being members of a polite society? Somehow I don’t think so. And it scares me.