You know, I said I wouldn’t talk about politics anymore. And this isn’t really politics. It’s just the sad reality of this election and what it’s bringing out in people.

How quickly this nation has descended into racist rhetoric.

I always knew that racism ran rampant throughout America. Can’t deny that. And it’s everywhere. North, South, no matter where you go it’s there. Some people choose to claim that they’re not racist (“I have a friend who’s black!”). And some are more up front about it. I’m not sure what’s worse.

But in the past few weeks it seems to be spewing forth in a way I haven’t seen in my young life. And I can’t figure out if the people who are now emboldened to spout racist propaganda—calling Obama a terrorist, holding up little Curious George stuffed dolls with an Obama sign taped to the heads, claiming that the man needs to go back to Africa, putting Obama’s image on a fake food stamp surrounded by watermelons and fried chicken—think it’s okay because it’s during an election. Maybe they justify it somehow. Maybe not. But it’s really scary.

And is it what the McCain/Palin campaign came hath wrought? I hope not. At least not on purpose. I’d like to think John McCain is a better man than that. And I honestly think he is. But the hatred—intense hatred—of Obama by some of his supporters is alarming.

Time will tell how this plays out, but I don’t exactly have high hopes. I guess all I can do is hope for some sort of healing. Unfortunately I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

I really do think that this country might go into a freefall after the election.