General Discussion

I wrote this as a response to Brian Thompson's death the day after but I was hesitant to post it. Until now. I hope it helps you to know you're not alone.
I'm sure we are feeling like the Jan sixers felt. The difference is our response. Some might call our restraint cowardice and they would be mistaken. Civility requires us to live by rules that we must respect to maintain order otherwise we're just another angry mob. Civility requires the courageous to protect the peaceful. I have lived my life full of hope for tomorrow to be better than today. It's given me strength through a tumultuous life. On November 5th 2024 I lost hope. It's worse than 2016 when I realized I underestimated the hatred of America against people that are different. We had 4 years to get to know the monster and his evil. Then, I had hoped 45 would be better than I expected. He was not. A hateful ill informed America put him back in office. Today I fear for our country and my brothers and sisters. Not just fear of him or his policies but of the things I'm incapable of imagining, the unknowable. I grew up with fear. I used it to become strong, to act in spite of fear. This is different. I fear what I might become, what I might do. Hate is replacing hope. Apathy is replacing empathy. I think Brian Thompson might be the beginning of the end of civility. I'm glad they fly their flags, wear their hats and their costumes so I know where to direct my hate but what about those hidden amongst us, my neighbors. I don't talk politics in public because I don't really want to find a new enemy to hate. I guess all hope is not lost, yet. I still want civilty. But I'm changing.