The political landscape has become more emotionally charged than any other point in recent history. The battle between President-elect Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left many people even experiencing personal conflict over their political choices. President-elect Trump’s unconventional approach to politics left many concerned and even outraged by his words and actions.
How will a Trump Administration turn out?
One of the common criticisms of President-elect Trump during the presidential election was his use of violent rhetoric and supposed endorsement of aggressive tactics. This signaled a nasty future ahead with a man like him involved in politics. Liberals have reacted in horror, claiming that he is a threat to liberty, to minorities, and all Americans everywhere.
But does the problem lie with the right wing and supporters of President-elect Trump?
In Chicago, a young white man was kidnapped and brutally beaten by a group of black individuals. The black group broadcasted the video of the beating online, while shouting racist attacks like “fck white people” and politically intolerant attacks like “fck Trump.”
This is disturbing on a number of levels.
First, this is a clear hate crime. If the roles were reversed, there would be bigger outrage with the Justice Department already looking to jump in. Imagine if a group of white people beat a black person yelling “fck black people” and “fck Hillary”?
Second, is this where our political discourse is going? Bullying has become a greater concern in society in general. Children are committing suicide at young ages because of bullying and adults are resorting to harsher tactics because of political preference. Bullying is getting worse.
But perhaps the most heartbreaking part of this story is the fact the young 18-year-old is a special needs.
Does President-elect Donald Trump really upset people enough to need to kidnap and harm another individual because they’re a different color? That’s racist. This is a cruel irony, given many have accused the incoming Republican President-elect of feeding racism and embracing white supremacists.
How many black people has Steve Bannon beat in a Facebook Live video while shouting hateful terms and profanity?
If you’re keeping score, those who are intolerantly rejecting the populist movement and rise of conservatism are showing themselves to be worse. All of the political rhetoric against individuals like Bannon for supposedly embracing racial supremacy, these young people have become so inspired by the negative rhetoric that they beat a young special needs man.
In what world is this justified? What was going through these kids heads?
This is the danger of intense rhetoric. When leftwing celebrities, political figures, and talking heads in the media all feed apocalyptic visions of the future under President-elect Donald Trump, they’re having a real world effect on people. By making people feel like the end is near and their life is under threat, they’re pushing impressionable people to unspeakable acts. This is the result of partisan hyperbole and preying on people’s emotions.
It’s not the conservative right that is making the situation in society worse. It’s the intolerant left.
