Mis-Inflammation

Long post warning. I will preface it by stating that, in the wake of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, in no way am I condoning or excusing violence. This was a heinous act that can't possibly bear good fruit; quite the opposite, in fact. This is evident in subsequent — and understandable — anger about the act. However, the resultant vitriolic blame for the mounting circumstances, both before and after the shooting, strikes me as, in many cases misdirected. I am not talking about conspiracy theories. I will elaborate. No, I'm not out to lose friends or insult people who don't necessarily think as I do; quite the opposite. But I calls 'em as I sees 'em, and if you're inclined to write me off, then that is entirely your prerogative

Here, I am not focusing on anything other than language and its ramifications in this emotionally charged climate and very little else. Not the fitness, or lack thereof, of either candidate; not the merits, or lack thereof, of their respective platforms; specifically, the power of language and general expression. While no single side is entirely blameless for fiery rhetoric, the vehement, exclusive blaming of the left for its "hateful speech" and "inflammatory name-calling" by such a vast segment of the right shows an amazing lack of critical thinking and self-awareness. It's selective memory to the point of willful blindness.

I invite you to think back to the pre-Trump days, when pejorative epithets like "libtard" and "snowflake" became standard speech for conservatives, and one didn't have to occupy an extreme left position to find oneself painted with this brush. Then "Socialist!" became the all-encompassing catch word that applied to anyone with views a half-inch left of Ronald Reagan. Then "Communists" and "Marxists" who "HATE AMERICA!" slid into widespread usage, goaded by Fox News and its ilk, never mind that the vast majority of those using those terms clearly have no earthly idea of their actual meaning — and that little could be farther from the truth. Stoking fear increases ratings, and no one does that better than the right-wing media. (Yeah, I've watched more than plenty of it, thank you.)

No, I am not an extreme leftist; the only "extreme" thing I qualify to be is a horror writer. Still, as a proponent of women's rights and absolutely of the conviction that a woman (and her physician) should have more say over what happens to her own body than the government, particularly in cases where her life or health might be in jeopardy, in some circles I've been painted as a radical leftist, never mind that a healthy majority of Americans share this belief. Really? I consider this view simple common sense, as I believe most reasonably intelligent members of the species do. Or should, if they have the temerity to call themselves "pro-life."

So, enter Trump, who immediately set about raising the bar to unprecedented levels for fiery, vitriolic, even hateful rhetoric. Trump has used — and continues to use — derogatory, accusatory language to demonize and dehumanize those who oppose his views. None of this can by any stretch of the imagination be attributed to incomplete or erroneous context or, in the right's favorite terms, "liberal media brainwashing." The man's words and actions are easily verifiable and have been right out there for the world to see and hear unfiltered.

A few from rallies, where protestors were present: "Maybe he should have been roughed up."—November 2015. "I'd like to punch him in the face."—February 2016. "Knock the crap out of him, would you? I promise you, I will pay your legal fees."—February 2016. "You know, part of the problem is nobody wants to hurt each other anymore, right? They're being politically correct the way they take them out, so it takes a little bit longer."—March 2016. "If you do hurt him, I'll defend you in court, don't worry about it."—March 2016.

I was flabbergasted when Trump attacked Senator John McCain, whose politics I vehemently disagreed with but whom I respected as a person, particularly for his endurance as a PoW in service to the United States. “He’s not a war hero,” Trump said. “He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured."

Whatever one might think of Hillary Clinton, was it appropriate for Trump to suggest, jokingly or otherwise, that the "Second Amendment people might take care of her court appointments" should she have won? If that was okay, then surely, so was Biden saying Trump needed to be in the crosshairs (which he actually apologized for in the wake of the shooting). Speaking of Clinton, I recall the debate with her in 2016 when Trump crept and paced around the stage behind Clinton like some kind of unhinged stalker. I think it was then and there that I knew that in no sane world could this man be a realistic candidate for the highest office in the land.

Yet, here we are in 2024.

Who can forget the lovely sentiment of all too many of Trump's followers, in reference to folks decrying the sheer, unbridled venom of Trump's tweets over the term of his presidency and beyond: "Fuck your feelings!"

Lately, all I have to is do go out and about town to see "Let's go, Brandon!" and "Fuck Biden — and fuck you for voting for him!" in yards and on bumper stickers. Do you see this as enthusiastic support for Trump or the Republican party? Me, I see it as unbridled hate, facilitated by a figure whose contempt for civil conventions long ago went out the window.

It's all such sincere Christian stuff, I must say. I mean, much if not most of this vitriol shares its space with signs reading "God Bless America!" and "Christian Patriots Live Here!" and "God, Guns, and Trump!" Let me tell you, I grew up in the church, remained active in one congregation or another well into adulthood, and studied the Bible both in church and on my own. I can safely that I have forgotten more of the tenets of Christianity than many of these folks have ever known in their lives.

Now we have the words of the Heritage Foundation's Kevin Roberts, in reference to Project 2025, the guidebook for a conservative government if/when Trump is elected: “The Second American Revolution will remain bloodless if the Left allows it to be.” Wow. Do you see this as anything other than a less-than-cryptic threat that it's their way or the bloody way? Is this an okay thing in our America? America is supposed to be, after all, yours, mine, and ours — not just YOUR America.

Wisely, both Biden and Trump, since the shooting, have called for Americans of all persuasions to tone down the rhetoric. I have no doubt that Biden is sincere. I would love to think that Trump is every bit as sincere. Truly I do. It's not bemusing at all that the Republican convention's theme is now "National Unity" and the first speaker up and called the left a "clear and present danger" to the country. Not too hypocritical, eh? I will categorically state that he is wrong. One-hundred percent wrong.

I have not written all this without full realization that people have their reasons for being angry and for acting out against that which angers them. I certainly do. But if we dehumanize and demonize everyone whose views, whose lifestyles, feel diametrically opposed to our own, we cannot respect each other. And without respect, we are pretty well doomed. Because this country truly is that proverbial melting pot, and the diverse views and people are not going anywhere. Unless we succumb to the unthinkable and begin to shed the blood of our fellow Americans.

If you don't agree with a word I've said here, I'm sorry for that, but I have to live with my conscience and my convictions. It's the former that shapes the latter. I do my best to be fair to all, and it is with that in mind that I feel absolutely compelled to illustrate how so many of us, as Americans, have too readily succumbed to anger and hatred — God knows, my temper has been running high lately — and it's anything but confined to the left. So, if my tone seems snarky, it's born of frustration with such widespread willful blindness, disrespect, and outright lies.

There's a lot — a fucking lot — more I could carry on with above and beyond how we interact with each other. But that's for another day.