What I find to be particularly confusing about people "hating others" for their opposing point of view on different issues, is that most of these same people consider themselves to be supporters of "free speech" and the Constitution.

It is disturbing to me that "hate" is so easily expressed in an initially reactive manner, upon hearing anything from anyone that is different from what one believes to be true or correct. This behavior is at the root of so called "road rage", which is a phenomenon that has increased at alarming rates in the past 10 years.

It seems to me that the brain process of actual "thinking" has been put on autopilot in the minds of too many and rather than making an effort to actually "think", automatic hateful reactions are, more often than not, the result. I wish I had an solution to this problem. What ever happened to agreeing to disagree?

Carey, I like and fully agree with your suggestions listed above, "Some ideas for dealing with the hate in uncertain and dangerous times..." Thanks for taking the time to share those thoughts.