Abusive rhetoric has consequences [letter]

Over the past month, we have had various columnists and letter writers in LNP | LancasterOnline tell us to overlook Donald Trump's offensive speech.

I want to remind LNP | LancasterOnline readers that Trump's speech is verbally and emotionally abusive — and shouldn't be overlooked.

Many examples could be given. Consider just one:

When Trump lied and said that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio — who are here completely legally and are highly vulnerable — were "disgusting" and were eating their neighbors' dogs and cats, his message was clear.

His message was that those migrants are not human beings, and that they don't deserve compassion and respect.

This kind of talk has real consequences.

Not only did Trump's words sting — big time — but some of Trump's supporters, following his lead, made death threats that multiplied the distress and fear.

What I find particularly sad is that many of the people who attend Trump's rallies appear to be people who have also known emotional pain and abuse. But instead of these experiences making the individuals more sensitive, the pain appears to have made them harder. From all indications, they now take pleasure in watching the abuse get projected onto others as Trump continues his name-calling and insults. In a tragic example of misdirection, they now seem happy to align themselves with the abuser.

Knowing all this invites each of us to consider how we will align. If we recognize the abuse for what it is but laugh anyway, we become accessories to Trump's abusive behavior.

Or, we can demonstrate our compassion by withdrawing our support.

The choice — as always — is ours.

Barry Stoner