Hi Brian, Thanks for reading and responding. You sound like most of the Trump-voting truck-driving Wisconsin folks I know. Good people who made their own choice in an election. My question in writing this piece was "should I be afraid?" And I answered my own question saying that fear is not really helpful to me in this situation. Fear tends to get people thinking in either/or ways that can lead to the "othering" that neither of us think is useful.

Unfortunately, my own answer to the question comes from my own background and identity. My rational mind says not think I am in danger, and that is probably right. But, given the rhetoric, people I know and love might be in danger, and that makes me wonder again if I should be more afraid.

Anyway, I think you are saying you (and most Trump voters by extension) are not threats to me, and by me considering you to be threats I am falling into the othering trap that is leading to the division in the country.

I don't want to fall into that trap, and most of the time I live outside of it.

But when I look back on the recent presidential campaign, the signs, slogans, and t-shirts I saw from the Republicans were the ones promoting othering. Republicans were not afraid to be divisive. I think they won because of it.

The Dems were trying to hold together their attempt at a coalition and avoid the "basket of deplorables" situation that they were not saying anything about groups of people - mainly attacking Trump. It didn't matter, though. The Republicans were able to paint the Dems as catering to the elite and out of touch with the working people.

In my attitude, I try to withhold judgment - partly because so many of my family are conservative. Also, I work for a living and know the value of a truck in getting the job done.

So my piece is really a question - am I a chump for not being afraid? Is this a situation that is actually dangerous?

I look forward to reading more of your writing