When the Election’s Over, is the Political Rhetoric Worth It?

We’ve heard a lot of political rhetoric filled with a lot of hate during the campaign. Are we really supposed to forget those words so easily?

As I write this, the election isn’t over. The polls haven’t yet closed. The votes haven’t even begun to be counted. But that’s the whole point: in at least one sense, what’s done — or will be done — is done. I’m thinking ahead to the days after the election. Maybe I should be thinking of the weeks afterward. When the election is settled one way or another, we’ll still be left with the sometimes painful political rhetoric we’ve had to endure.

We’ve heard people we thought we knew better, maybe even people we love, spout off things we’d never expect them to say.

Maybe they just got caught up in politics the way some people get caught up in a football game. Every November, my alma mater, the University of South Carolina, nicknamed “The USC” over that other “USC” out in California, plays its chief rival. That chief rival I speak of, of course, is Clemson. We hope for a victory every year, but deep down, I think plenty of Gamecocks don’t put a great deal of confidence in one. I could look up the win percentages of this historic rivalry. But frankly, I think I’d just as soon pass on that.

As we lead up to the game, which now carries the name “Palmetto Bowl,” we hear a lot of big talk. But it’s a football game. We know there’s going to be big talk. That’s how it works. Most of the year, I don’t really even think about Clemson. When I see someone dressed in “Tiger Orange,” I don’t get disgusted. Each of the two schools has its strengths. I chose mine for my reasons. Others chose Clemson for their reasons.

A presidential race is a bit difference

The result of the annual football game is bragging rights for one side, if one side cares enough to brag. But when a presidential election is over, that outcome can affect things for years to come. It can affect things that actually matter.

And thanks to our two-party system, which thrives on division so that people see only one side or the other, the ultimate “we vs. they,” those who don’t agree with us get labeled any number of names. I won’t rehash them here. That’s been done enough.

Take your pick.

This year’s campaign, as the last couple have been, have included particularly nasty moments. Nasty words. Nasty political rhetoric.

People some of us thought we knew, through their words and attitudes, proved they were different than who we thought they were. Maybe that’s their fault for hiding the “real” them. Maybe it’s our fault for not paying more attention.

But where do we go from here? Some of us have heard those around us say outrageous things about people we care about. We’ve heard them spew hate left and right.

Many of us, at this point, find ourselves too exhausted to even try to engage in conversation. We know that most of the louder ones don’t want conversation. They just want their side to win at all costs.

Should those costs include personal relationships? Do they even care that they’ve driven wedges between themselves and others because of their actions?

What are we supposed to do now?

Those of us who’ve been shocked by the hate of others probably won’t be able to forget that on Wednesday morning.

In a sense, I’m glad to have seen the “real” persons in some cases. But in a few, I’m really sorry that I did. I’m sorry to have to put up some walls between me and some of those people. I don’t like to do that. But I also have protect what’s important to me as well…including my own mental health.

No matter who wins when the counting is done, are we supposed to forget the last six months? Do we just sweep it under the rug and attribute it to “good ol’ politics”?

I wonder if I’m the only one asking that question.