Perhaps we need to stop accusing our political opponents of being a threat to our democracy?
Perhaps we need to stop using the language of war when discussing politics?
Though a thriving democracy demands a loyal opposition to any governing majority it does not need a resistance - losing an election (whether 1992, 2000, 2008, or 2016) is not the same as living in occupied territory.
There are too many people out there who will take this heated rhetoric as a call to arms - arms that are plentiful and readily available.
This current era of treating the opposition as the enemy really took hold under Clinton, grew under Bush, exploded under Obama, and has now simply become commonplace.
What can we do?
We can start by calling out our friends, family members, and elected officials when they choose to go down this path.
We think before we speak or type.
We can realize that those things that unite us as Americans are far stronger than those that divide us.
We can refuse to give in when others seek to divide us for political gain.
We can agree that this must to stop. We are not at war.
