I don’t think elucidator has ever made any bones about his belief that in terms of political unrest and anxiety, American culture in the late 1960’s was experiencing quite unhealthy levels of stress and polarization. ISTM that it’s fair to describe the emanations of such a tense and mistrust-laden atmosphere as a “stench”, even if you fully believe that the liberalizing social changes of the sixties were beneficial overall.
Personally, I was only four in 1968, but based on the little I remember and the somewhat more I’ve heard and read, I’m willing to believe elucidator when he says the political climate in this country back then was holding the gasoline-soaked rag a lot closer to the lighted match than we are nowadays.
I agree with elucidator some 90+% on that point. I apologize that in trying to be cute, my point was lost.
My point, with both elucidator and Airman Doors is that while there is most likely no threat to society or to the nation from the current brou-ha-ha, there is most definitely a threat to individuals. If the rabid right is encouraged to harass me in the grocery store parking lot due to the bumber sticker I might have supporting ObamaCare, is that not a threat? Is that not an attempt to intimidate me into not expressing my political beliefs?