Poisoning The Process | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Poisoning The Process

The Trump campaign's propensity for violence is unacceptable.

23
Poisoning The Process
Pinterest/AP Photo

When I showed up 15 minutes early for a weekly meeting with one of my professors, I plopped down on a chair outside of his office and whiled away the time as so many in this day and age do -- gluing my eyes to my phone. After glancing through my Twitter feed and shooting off a couple of birthday wishes on Facebook that I would have otherwise forgotten, I decided the day was off to an overly-pleasant start, so I decided to balance the scales by immersing myself in the latest news on the 2016 presidential race.

Opening my the Politico app, I gave the perfunctory eye rolls needed for the latest on O’Reilly’s speculation on the eventual VP pick, and Harry Reid’s plans to bring Nevada into the Democratic column. But then I saw an article that caught my attention -- reports of Republican delegates receiving death threats from Trump supporters if they did not support the businessman’s bid for the presidency.

I’ve written at length on Trump’s demagogic tendencies, and I stand by those words. The man is a master at playing on peoples’ fears and emotions in order to benefit himself. Now we are seeing the results of that.

Threats of violence aren’t something new to American politics. There have always been crazies on either side of the aisle that resort to these sorts of tactics to shape the debate. But what is concerning is Trump’s tacit approval -- or at least willingness to look the other way -- of his supporters that engage in this kind of behavior.

While I hesitate to go so far as to say that Trump actively endorses political violence, you don’t have to look hard to find instances of his rhetoric that any reasonable person would blame for encouraging it. From offering to pay the legal bills of any supporters who beat up protestors at his rallies, to his campaign manager shoving a reporter, the real estate magnate has a propensity for engaging in the type of behavior that cultivates a culture of aggression and violence. At best, his rhetoric is dangerously careless, the kind more befitting a thuggish political machine boss than a potential leader of the free world.

This behavior has no place in American politics. I’m not advocating for some idealistic “Great Debate,” I know that politics can be bare-knuckled and mean. But there has to be a limit -- and that limit is where you begin edging into physical violence. Violence and intimidation are the weapons of the small minded and power hungry. Attempting to restrict a citizen’s freedom of speech with threats is an affront to the founding principles of this great nation. The fact that Trump and his supporters are utilizing this rhetoric and engaging in these tactics should be sickening to all supporters of democracy, no matter their political party.

As a nation, we cannot allow this to go unnoticed and unanswered.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

196723
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

18754
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

460799
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28269
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments