We have to fear now for the future of our nation, as Donald Trump has sowed what he incited: civil unrest and violence, reaching its peak with troubles in Chicago, causing the cancellation of a Trump rally last night.
Donald Trump has promoted violence and division with his rhetoric, including calling demonstrators names and having them evicted, with some being beaten up by hoodlums in the crowds, particularly if one is African American or Latino.
Journalists have also been mistreated and abused by Trump people, and Trump seems unconcerned about the chaos and anarchy he is promoting.
This blogger has written on thehill.com and on History News Network of his concern that all of this turmoil, encouraged by Trump but also the Republican Party with its refusal to give support and respect to Barack Obama over the past seven years in a way unseen in the past by any political party, will lead to the danger of assassination of Trump or some other Presidential candidate.
Assassination is NEVER the answer to any political disagreements, but we know that Huey P. Long was assassinated in 1935 and George C. Wallace paralyzed for life in 1972 by assassins, stirred by their demagoguery, so Trump is treading dangerous ground.
A reminder that Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 of my book cover the stories of these two tragic events surrounding Long and Wallace!
We must all pray that civil order reign, and that Donald Trump recognize his responsibilities to lower the temperature of political debate, but it looks as if we are gearing up for a tumultuous year surrounding the Presidential Election of 2016, unmatched since the Presidential Election of 1968!
For the safety of my family, we will not be attending any political rallies in the Fall.
Trump was yelling at his rally in Missouri last night for his supporters to disrupt Bernie rallies. Also, he’s calling Bernie a Communist.
Yes, Pragmatic Progressive, he is inciting violence, rather than trying to tone it down!
Interested in other’s opinions of this article.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/12/opinions/defend-trump-free-speech-opinion-randazza/index.html
I could not agree more with the fact that Trump’s behavior and rhetoric have been totally shameful and should be condemned. It is embarassing; absolutely shameful. However, having said that, I think it is also true that the behavior of some of the protesters has been not-so-great as well. I saw one of them on the news saying that they wanted to make it known that Donald Trump is not welcome in their city (Chicago). They were not exactly “peaceful protesters” to say the least. So I cannot defend that either. Although it is laughable when Trump tries to say he is a “victim” in all of this. It is dangerous when either side- regardless of which side you agree with (I am certainly not on the side of the Trump supporters)- resorts to violence in hope of silencing those who disagree with them. This is not to downplay Trump’s responsibility in all of this, as there is no denying that he is indeed responsible, but I think both sides (his supporters and those not peacefully protesting) are at fault. Just because Trump is being the way he is does not give anyone the right to respond in any way they see fit, at least not within the bounds of the Constitution.
Mike, I agree with you but the provocateur bears the greatest responsibility, and there is no sign that Trump is toning down, so he should be barred from any venue where it is felt he is provoking violence.
He must be told tone down or you are not welcome to speak!
I watched what happened at that rally. It was clearly Trump’s supporters who were getting violent.
Pragmatic is correct. It was clearly Trump supporters who instigated the violence.