Right speech is quite the topic in this election process, as hate speech, surpressed speech and speech condoning violent acts are swirling around on the campaign trail and in the media. There appear to be people who like unfettered speech where thinking or pausing is not involved, and impulsiveness is the rule. I understand they are sick of "canned" speech on the stump, and these people on the right are breaking all the rules of civilized discourse and inciting to boot. It gives certain people a buzz up. It's exciting to break the rules if you feel the rules have been squashing you. And you may feel the rules are created by others without your input or control.
I'm reminded of when I was a child and as I was the oldest I behaved well and bravely at the doctor's office when it was time to get a shot. My younger brother, however, screamed and howled and one time ran down the hall trying to escape from the needle. I envied him his refusal to go along with the plan. I just didn't have the nerve. But I was a kid, and he was a kid, and these are grown people who in the best of circumstances would have learned to temper their speech and look for calmness and caution in others, especially those wishing to govern. Is it a failure of their education, their upbringing or the desperation of people with little or no hope? I feel deeply the fear behind all this rhetoric and sympathize. But stirring the pot fires up the wrong emotions, actions and judgments. Will they simmer down or is this an impulse to destroy, like the kid with the block tower?
I hope our better natures surface, and the sense of black and white and demonizing dissolves and something meaningful arises. This is painful to witness and sad for our country.
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