Capitulation

Capitulation to Trump has already begun. It happens in every country when an authoritarian enters the picture and suddenly fear installs itself. Hitler's rise to power was enabled because many people capitulated thinking things wouldn't get as bad as they eventually did. 

Today we are once again in divisive times which have tested the strength of family and friendship bonds over issues that people hold dear. The level of morality of others is being weighed by their vote for an integrity-challenged criminal and seen as a sign of their own questionable character. 

This is hard to argue with. 

Imagine standing by while watching attrocities happen and thinking it was just normal politics. While we still have a way to go to get to that level of depravity that Nazi Germany eventually descended to, clearly the type of hateful rhetoric that Trump inspires has emboldened the worst instincts of the lowest common denominator. To be clear, the KKK and the alt-right doesn't vote for Harris but gleefully did so for Trump who more adequately speaks their language.

Capitulation by those who previously criticized him may not be quite as bad, but it certainly doesn't inspire us to look up to them either.