Thank you for this concise historical perspective. I live in a blue state, but in one of it's few red towns.Part of my bewilderment is seeing my generous, kind neighbors flying their Trump flags.

I also think that the media plays a very big role. Before I read the news of the conviction on Fox, my kind, gentle aunt used the exact phrasing that Fox used to describe her feelings. And my beloved husband of almost 50 years uses phrases from CNN and MSNBC. I am both fearful and sad.