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In recent days, a disturbing trend has begun to emerge. The vocal minority, unable to process the reality that the Democrats lost the Presidential election, have taken to embracing violence as a means to silence those who would dare to speak in positive terms about the direction our fair country is headed under the leadership of President Trump. There have been several violent attacks on Trump supporters as they were engaged in television interviews, including a young woman with a Donald Trump hat being pepper-sprayed in the face, and white nationalist leader Richard Spencer punched as he was interviewed during President Trump’s inauguration.

When author Milo Yiannopoulos recently traveled to the University of California-Berkeley to honor a speaking engagement, riots broke out, hopeful attendees were brutally beaten, property was destroyed and fires were set by crowds of students and others who were opposed to Mr. Yiannopoulos, and the potential things he might say in his speech. They were carrying signs and chanting to the effect that he represents a new age of fascism and a revival of naziism. By virtue of the set of beliefs they determined he holds, and the content of the potential words he might say in a speech, this mob surmised that violence and destruction of uninvolved people’s property, and even arson was a justifiable response.

Are we actually at a tipping point where mainstream liberal Democrats believe that violent acts against supporters of the President are tolerable? I hope not. Some of the sentiment seems to be, “It is okay to punch a nazi” or “It is fine to beat-up a fascist,” but this ignores the history of the actual Nazis themselves, wherein the fledgling Nazi Party in 1920’s Germany was defended by the Sturmabteilung, or “Brownshirts” as they were later known, who violently beat down anyone who dared to disagree with them. They orchestrated terrible riots and events of destruction such as the Saalschlacht, and Kristallnacht.

This is not an acceptable way to petition the government for the redress of grievances. This is a way to become what you are purporting to criticize. Remember the words of the philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche: “He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.”

There comes a time when Democrats simply have to face the truth that their form of solution-finding has been rejected by America. 75% of the eligible voters did not vote for their candidate. It is time to accept this. He IS your President. It is perfectly fine to oppose President Trump in a peaceful manner. It is perfectly fine to protest, even loudly and annoyingly. It is not acceptable to use violence, it is not acceptable to threaten the President’s life, (yes, I’m talking to you, Madonna,) and it is not acceptable to start an armed revolution.

Donald Trump made a large number of promises during his campaign for President. There are a lot of people expecting an awful lot of him, and if he doesn’t perform, there is going to be an angry populace. If he fails, the Democrats will have fertile soil to grow a grassroots movement next election. If he succeeds, perhaps life will get better for Trump’s many detractors, and they may be hard-pressed to find anything to complain about in four years. Either way, I suggest both sides stick to the high road.

“When you go after honey with a balloon, the great thing is not to let the bees know you’re coming.” - Winnie the Pooh