In a country where freedom of speech is a cherished principle, it is always disheartening to encounter those who verbally or physically attack those with whom they disagree.
While working at the Firehouse during early voting, I was called a Nazi and asked where I sold my swastikas. I was told, “You sick”. We have been spat, cursed at and been given the middle finger. One sign holder has a cup of coffee thrown at him. Wednesday, I watched a woman in her 70s bend down and give the Trump sign the middle finger. Real mature.
Two ladies at the tent on Sunday evening felt threatened to the point they considered calling the police.
I thought it was bad when the signs were being destroyed, little did I know how viscous people can get. This is America, not Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, or any other socialist country.
Catherine Nobles
Talbot County
Talbot County
Jay Patterson says
Clearly, the writer is referring to the party of tolerance; the Democratic party. Sarcasm is difficult to convey in a post, but rest assured, it was employed here.
Democrats are the party of violence, social screaming, shaming others, vandalism, lawfare and other fascist tactics, all the while accusing their opponents of being fascist.
But, why is this? Well, the root cause is a steep decline in treating mental illness. The new hotness is to accept mental illness as being quirky or artistic and allowing reprehensible behavior to occur, because if you try to hold these people accountable, you’re labeled an uncaring “nazi” who doesn’t understand the crazy person’s “truth”. See? There’s the shame play to get rational people to feel guilty for doing the right thing by calling out the offender’s goofy behavior.
I’d wager most of these people have been in therapy for years with no breakthroughs. They don’t accept their bad behavior, and work on getting better, they just want a person to listen to them for $200/hr while they vent, then leave with no behavioral change.
The extra scary part? These mentally unstable people vote.
Michael Davis says
Jay, I’m not sure you live in this country. Russia creates bots that push lies in the United States, they make videos to undermine our faith in democracy, and they have organized demonstrations supporting Trump. The lack of reality in your comments bears all the hallmarks of being a product of Russia.
Hal De Bona says
No, the scary part is that “some” want to blame everything from school shootings to opioid addiction on mental illness. How convenient for you to “assume” every democrat has been in some sort of therapy! Ugh!
Deirdre LaMotte says
Unfortunate to say the least. What I will say is, the fascist candidate who is running has brought hate to the mainstream
and scared the heck out of all those who value our democracy.
To be rude is not acceptable, but to remain silent is unforgivable.
Rick Megahan says
Bolshevism is alive and well in Talbot County.
Michael Davis says
I would suggest you acquaint yourself the the phrase The Banality of Evil coined by the writer Hannah Arendt in 1963. She wrote extensively about Nazi Germany and World War II. On lighter side, I recommend you listen to the songs “Your Friendly Neighborhood Kliu Klux Klan” or “I Was Not a Nazi Polka,” both performed by the Mitchell Trio. Arendt was writing about Adolf Eichamann who was living as your average Joe in Argentina when he was captured by Israel in 1960. Before that, he was personally responsible for the murder of millions of Jewish children, women and unarmed men, The song about the Klu Klux Klan was a reminder that your neighbor who you play golf with, whose wife organizes church socials, and who is a member in good standing at your yacht club, spends his weekends lynching Blacks, castrating Black men, raping Black women, etc. the whole time looking like your average preppie Republican.
Meanwhile, members of your tribe are violent following the orders of your leader. Even before January 6, a good Republcian shot up a pizza parlor in Washington. Just a few days ago, a 63 year old Trump supporter punched out an elderly man at a polling place. A day ago, a treengage boy Trump supporter punched a 70 woman in the stomach because she supported Harris. Do any Republicans comdemn this violence? I’ve not heard a whisper.
Trump promotes hate, violence, the destruction of the US government, and supports our worst ememies in the world. He rapes women and says they want it. He uses the same language used by Hilter. He is full of seething hate and people who know him judge him a dangerous fascist. Oh, and he encourages White domestic terrorist groups to to keep their guns loaded to be prepared to support his election regardless of the results.
So you sit at a booth, being perfectly polite, while you support a man who will destroy our country.
Someone flips you the bird and you are appaplexic. “Why can’t we all just get along?” you moan. Tell that to the 70 year old woman punched by a teenager. Tell that to the survivers of people who died as a result of January 6. Tell that to the tens of thousands of Americans who died of Covid-19 while Trump told people to drink bleach.
I think the people who acted out their anger by being rude to you are wrong. Completely wrong and their behavior is inexecusable. They owe you an appology. But i understand them. How we people, who care about civil behavior and our country, deal with people in Trump’s fascist club is a complex problem. Far more complex than addressed in your well-meaning but simplistic letter.
William Keppen says
Anger and incivility breeds anger and incivility. Both have been amplified this election cycle by none other that former president Donald J Trump. There is no excuse for such conduct in a civil society.