I stared at my computer screen in bewilderment as I pored over the comments people were leaving on a status that CNN posted on its Facebook page last week.

The story of an intercepted, ricin-laced letter, allegedly sent by a Mississippi man to President Barack Obama, had just broke, and comments were coming in at a rapid pace. An FBI investigation concerning who sent the tainted letters has continued throughout this week, as reported by CNN on April 24.

Many people posted well wishes, words of thankfulness for the letter’s interception and expressions of horror at the possibility of our president being murdered. These words were not the ones that left me feeling disgusted.

No, my own outrage came from comments such as: “toooo bad o bum face didn’t get the letter!” and “idiot Obama. he should have gotten it!”

But the negativity didn’t end there. Aside from expressions of outright hatred, others turned the story into an opportunity to interject their personal political sarcasm.

“They should really ban mailing letters,” wrote one user — an allusion to the current debate about gun control.

Another individual wrote: “Regulate Ricin. That’s the political answer.”

Although comments such as these were met with wide condemnation from people self-identifying across the political spectrum, the negativity and hatred for the president represents a growing societal problem.

We currently exist in an era of bitter partisanship — a time when both major parties seem to constantly be at each other’s throats. The vitriol spewed by both ideological extremes has only grown worse in recent years.

In my lifetime, the rhetoric coming from both politicians and ordinary citizens has never been this divisive and personal.

Political opponents are no longer just opponents in the chamber and in elections. Now, they are seen as enemies who must be stopped at all costs. As a result, attacks on the opposition have become less about politics and more about personal lives and character.

It’s one thing to disagree with someone based on the merits of his or her ideas or beliefs. This sort of debate is healthy and serves to strengthen the deliberative nature of democracy.

But to wish physical harm on the president of the United States crosses the line.

Love him or hate him, Obama is still a human. He has a wife, two daughters and other family and friends.

I severely disagree with many of the policies of President George W. Bush, but I never would have dreamed of rooting for his untimely demise. Make no mistake — I would not hesitate to condemn anyone on the left who expressed a similar sentiment toward Bush.

When the news broke of a similar letter being sent to Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), my reaction was gratitude for his well-being, not disappointment that he hadn’t opened it.

It seems there is a small but growing oppositional faction that holds a deep, personal hatred for Obama. These people do not stop at disagreeing about politics — they dislike him on a personal level and will use any opportunity to express their negative feelings toward him.

I long for an America in which we can all move past the differences in our personal beliefs and focus on debating the pressing issues and challenges of the present and future.

What will it take to reach this place? I confess I don’t have that answer. And much to the chagrin of many like-minded Americans, our politics only appear to grow messier and more divided with each passing election cycle.

There have been times throughout history when America was able to come together, despite the vast array of ideas expressed by its citizens. We beat Adolf Hitler, won the Cold War and have stood united in the faces of terrorists who dared to attack our freedoms and way of life.

Our country faces serious challenges that require serious solutions. We must move past the era of personal attacks and political hatred to address these challenges.

David Swenton is a junior political science and writing and rhetoric major. His column appears online weekly. He can be reached at daswento@syr.edu or followed on Twitter at @DavidSwenton.

Published on April 25, 2013 at 2:02 am