People are becoming increasingly violent and voiced over this election. While it is acceptable and even commendable that so many people are excited about this election, current events have shown that more than just a few people are going off the deep end.
Just today, in a township in Ohio, a man shot at teens for "attempting to deface his McCain presidential campaign yard sign." This deplorable act is not the only thing that has happened recently. A house in West Hollywood, CA is displaying a hanging mannequin reminiscent of VP candidate Sarah Palin. Also, a low-level campaign worker claimed that a black man assaulted her and carved a backwards "B" into her cheek. Later developments in this story show that there was no assault by a man, the wounds were self-inflicted and the story was fictional.
These types of acts, and it does not matter ONE bit what side it is coming from need to stop. This historic election has emblazoned impressionable youth with fiery compassion for their party and deep seated resentment for the other party. He-said she-said rumors fly from both sides and are propelled throughout tight-knitted groups as truth.
These types of actions are usually perpetrated by undereducated individuals. What can we do to curb this type of behavior?
Nothing.
There is no throwing water on the fire.
The type of people who do this sort of thing will not respond to anything short of the candidates themselves coming together and preaching peace and respect to their in essence "congregation". Even then, the more radical population will simply ignore these pleas.
Mob mentality is dangerous, but even more dangerous is the type of mob mentality that results in violence. I would not doubt that sometime during this election season, even though it is almost over, that some idiotic action will result in an innocent death.
Just an observation..