On Fridays you may see us by the side of the highway campaigning for Vice-president Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. There’s a lot of enthusiasm for the Harris/Walz team out there, which is communicated with loud honking, energetic waving, thumbs up and other gestures of support and hope. On the other hand, we have learned to expect a certain amount of abuse. Some conservatives have the decency to show their disdain with a thumbs down or a sideways headshake, simple gestures that respectfully convey their preference. Others, perhaps those with high blood pressure, are a lot more demonstrative. Not all, but many bikers, drivers of battered saloons, huge SUVs and late model pickups towing fancy boats and campers flip us off and/or shout insults. This is ugly enough but some of the expressions these people use are downright nasty: “Grab her by the p**sy!”; “You people are a bunch of f**king morons!”; “You must be retarded!”; “I wish your parents had had an abortion so I wouldn’t have to look at you!” This ugliness communicates anger and since anger is often an expression of fear, I’d like to know what these people are afraid of.
Are they worried that immigrants are going to eat their pets? Do they anticipate that Harris and Walz are going to take away their guns? Do they think that their children will be taught to be ashamed of their Western European ancestry? Can they possibly believe that anyone will ‘execute’ their grandchild following a full-term abortion? These are just a few of the many absurd myths propagated by conservative leaders about their liberal opponents. It’s totally egregious, but it’s effective in maintaining the division that is our nation’s greatest weakness.
Over and over during his pathetic performance during the debate with Kamala Harris, Donald Trump stated “she is destroying America.” This is simply not even close to being true. The only thing that can destroy the United States is the hateful, divisive rhetoric of our conservative lawmakers. Our two-party system should be a strength, but over the past eight years it has become a liability thanks to the power of the lie. 
The November election will be pivotal in our history. The results at this stage are far from certain, but whoever wins, we have only one way forward. Let’s look at the facts, shelve our differences, agree to disagree if we have to, but for the good of the country let’s control our emotions and work across the aisle to keep America great.
David Stanton
Cook