The use of violent vocabulary, which involves the use of words with a violent connotation and various violent subjects, has been found to have a range of effects on listeners with aggressive personalities, from motivating subjects to vote or boosting support for political violence.

Dear Neighbor,

Once upon a time, presidents of the United States spoke in full sentences and avoided inflammatory comments and obvious lies. There was no need to cover the ears of young children when the leader of the free world was speaking. President Teddy Roosevelt shocked the world by saying “damn” in public, but President Harry Truman didn’t ruffle feathers with “Give’ em hell, Harry.”

Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson used strong language privately, but public profanity was still shocking. Richard Nixon’s presidency blurred the lines between private and public language, especially during the Watergate scandal, where “expletive deleted” became a common phrase.

President Trump, however, has introduced vocabulary that has never been heard before coming from a president. According to a study that compares President Trump’s speeches to past and present politicians and foreign dictators. His use of profanity and violent vocabulary has increased over time, and is now at a higher level than any other U.S. major party presidential candidate or foreign dictators.

The use of violent vocabulary, which involves the use of words with a violent connotation and various violent subjects, has been found to have a range of effects on listeners with aggressive personalities, from motivating subjects to vote or boosting support for political violence.

I was reminded of the vast difference between the past public statements of our leaders and the present bombast we get daily when I heard the statements of Presidents Clinton, Obama and Biden and Vice President Harris at the funeral of Jesse Jackson. Each highlighted a personal connection with Reverend Jackson and references to the important contributions he made to our Democracy. What a contrast to the narcissistic messages from Trump that everything is all about him.

I choose not to quote the hateful messages Trump has spewed regarding immigrants, his political rivals, poor people, people of color and anyone he sees as “the other.” Let’s keep covering the children’s ears until this menace is gone.

“Dear Neighbor” authors are united in a belief that civility and passion can coexist. We believe curiosity and conversation make us a better community.