Why so much hatred?  Why do modern liberals want to censor free speech?  What happened to love; and what happened to, "speaking words of wisdom, let it be"?

It was not that long ago that classical liberalism was a respectable position.  Debate, honor, disagreement, persuading.  But not now. Disagreement is labeled as "hate speech" and other examples of name calling.

Love is all you need.  Did you know that since the 2016 election there have been over 500 incidents of violence (per Breitbart news) against persons in the USA either wearing "Trump" or "MAGA" clothing, or with similar bumper stickers.  Why, pray tell, is this violence celebrated?  Why the hatred against free speech?

A few years ago the "Tea Party" groups were being blocked by the Obama Administration.  Is it any wonder why many conservatives openly feared the continuation that a Hillary Clinton Administration would have then led to?  Let me talk.  Let me think.  Persuade me if you disagree; don't start just calling me names and threatening violence.

On some college campuses a faculty member who uses (the pronouns) "he" or "she" can get suspended or fired these days. Isn't that stunning!?  Suddenly the flat-earthers are looking a lot smarter than some of those in today's modern academia, I think.  They honestly can't tell the difference between boys and girls, or men and women?  They sometimes say that "common sense" is not so common.  Sadly, that is true.

In Italy, 100 years ago -  what was it like societally - that led up to Mussolini taking over?  And 85 years ago, when Hitler became chancellor in Germany, was there free discourse or rather hatred and censorship of honest opinions?

So tomorrow afternoon, if I put on a "Trump" shirt and walk around downtown - will I hatefully be called a "hater"?  Would that make it "okay" to beat me up on the sidewalk?  Should I be punched, robbed, and lose half my teeth for such a crime?  (I don't think I'll try it, but this is just an academic exercise, of course.)

I love watching old movies.  Back in the 1940s, Humphrey Bogart almost always had a cigarette in his hand.  In the 1950s Doris Day would sing wonderfully and wear beautiful outfits.  (There was no confusing her gender, that she was a beautiful woman!)

I have to wonder why we have gotten so lost.

Will we recover?

In my extended family there are persons who don't want to speak to me, because I have the ability to think independent of their rigid consensus.  This is sad.  Perhaps I'll need to be taken to a reeducation camp if the "haters" complete their takeover and their censorship.  But you know, which side - just which side is the hate-filled side?  Why not just live and let live?

If Bogart had a cigarette in his hand today would someone feel justified in throwing a big bucket of water on him?  And then others would loudly laugh at him and call him names.  Why the violence? Why be so judgmental?

Google, Facebook, Twitter and others are trying to silence conservatives.  Perhaps they'll succeed.  Maybe a FEMA camp is in my future.  Maybe I'll need to be reeducated.  Maybe the warden, "he" or "she" (ahem!), will make my life a living hell then.  Have you ever read, "Animal Farm" or "1984"?  We seem to have become so lost.  "Hate is all you need."  So little love and so little inclusion of divergent opinions.  I am sad.  As I read the news each day the hatred grows, it seems.  Mussolini and Hitler, I think, would be proud.

Paul Abramson, Evansville, Indiana