LETTER: Violence and overheated political rhetoric

Your editorial about the increase of extremism often leading to violence was supplemented in a later edition by political cartoonist Michel Ramirez. His cartoon depicting a bottle of poison was a perfect representation of the “active ingredients” of political extremism: hatred, ignorance, contempt and irresponsible rhetoric, with “side effects” of malice, division and polarization.

Although the bad side of human nature has always been with us throughout history, a layer of civility often protected us from the worst manifestations of our more hostile impulses and behaviors. This was effectively diminished by a president who has made an art of nastiness. Donald Trump sowed the seeds of malevolent behavior by legitimizing hatred, name-calling, mockery, retribution and vengeance. Suddenly, for too many Americans, it became acceptable to emulate these bad behaviors, and the layer of civility has diminished and all but disappeared.

I believe those of us who care about human behavior and exemplify what is best in all of us are still in the majority, but presidential immunity granted by the Supreme Court and the disappearance of congressional guardrails have allowed the president’s behavior to go unchecked. The tone he has set has brought out the worst in too many people, and they are responsible for allowing this to continue and to degenerate into the toxic and deplorable rhetoric and violence. We must make our voices against this reprehensible behavior loud and clear whenever and wherever we can.