General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I know some very good, kind and gentle Trump supporters. [View all]Buckeye_Democrat
(14,853 posts)"Us versus them" can be appealing to many people, even over something as silly as sports teams. Unfortunately, what starts out as a "friendly rivalry" can be elevated to hatred and insane generalizations among some of the fans. Those fans indeed decided to "pick a side" to get the process started in the first place, but I don't think it's a part of the human condition that will ever go away.
It's the demonization of others where it really becomes a problem, and that frequently depends on propagandists to promote it.
Many white Germans today might still view Jews as "others" to some degree, but I don't expect another Holocaust anytime soon without the fear and hate mongers making it worse.
There was far more anti-Japanese racism in this country during WW2 because it was promoted by propaganda efforts.
Right-wing propagandists -- the "more educated" ones in that party -- are elevating hatred against minorities mostly because they know most African Americans will vote for Democrats. If African Americans voted like Ben Carson -- and I'm so thankful that they do not! -- FOX News would have a drastic change in programming.
I am very disgusted by people who fall for the propaganda, but it doesn't just happen in regard to race and gender. I've seen similar insanity over many things, like witnessing too many Americans get whipped into a frenzy over Iraq and Saddam Hussein.