Donald Trump’s presidential campaign opened a Pandora’s box of our worst instincts. He bullied Hillary Clinton by calling her “crooked Hillary’ and “lying Hillary.” He created a feeding frenzy by letting crowds chant “lock her up!”

With his own behavior over the years and other Stephen Bannon-influenced ideas (“turn on the hate”), our president-elect has bestowed legitimacy on the bully, those who denigrate women, the xenophobe, the white supremacist, the homophobe, the lecher, the adulterer and the vindictive.

I’m shocked and saddened by this. It feels like the death of civility and a knockout blow to our shared American values of caring for and holding each other up as worthy of respect.

I can just hear our children saying “The president is a bully. Why can’t I be one?” “The president belittles women. Why can’t I?” “The president hates Muslims and Mexicans. Why can’t I?” In fact, we are seeing this played out daily since the election.

Asked by Lesley Stahl of “60 Minutes” what he would say to those who are acting out his campaign rhetoric, Trump’s overly simplified response to the deviltry he’s wrought was “Stop it!”

We, as a society, have been working to eliminate negative behavior in our schools and communities. All faiths preach love of one another. My son-in-law, a school psychologist, works daily to help children understand that we are all part of one human family and should treat others as they would like to be treated.

Our celebrity-crazed society has elected a celebrity president. Trump said in his second book, “For me, you see, the important thing is the getting … not the having.”

Well, Mr. Trump, you “have” the most important job in the world. Everyone is waiting. And I am praying that you and your appointees do not turn the United States of America into the Untied States of America.

Linda Rings

Old Orchard Beach

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