Freedom of speech ...

I think that the first time I truly became aware of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution was when I saw a picture of white robed and masked men marching on Washington. This was back in the 40's and I asked my father about it. He explained that they were the Ku Klux Klan and I was shocked when he told me of their belief in white supremacy and how they operated through fear and hatred.

“Why can't we stop them and put them in jail?”, I asked and dad went on to tell me how everyone in our country has the right to freedom of speech and can express their beliefs, no matter what they are, without fear of imprisonment. It was a hard concept to accept and it still is; but, I understand it better now and realize its what sets us apart from those that rule by force and total censorship.

Having said all that I can accept that Donald Trump has the right to his opinions. What I find more difficult to accept is that his fiery rhetoric   (which is often based on half-truths or his own imagination) has caught on with such a large part of the population. Can they actually believe that a person who acts more like a school bully than a statesman be a viable president of our great nation? Can they overlook his lack of knowledge in worldly affairs? Is their hatred so strong that they cannot see the disaster that our country would face if he were elected?

I am frightened and apprehensive that it has gone this far … way beyond what most of us would have thought possible. I pray that reason will come before it's too late.