My brother just sent me the following, from The Atlantic:
"Retribution Is Here" There are two fundamental paths human beings take when confronted with excellence or virtue in others. The first path is the way of growth: Those genuinely seeking self-improvement look to people of accomplishment, strong character, and sound judgment as models. They study these individuals, learn from their example, and strive to elevate themselves to that higher standard. This is the path of aspiration, it requires humility, effort, and the courage to acknowledge that others possess qualities worth emulating. The second path is the way of destruction: Those who lack character, integrity, or the discipline for genuine self-improvement choose instead to tear down anyone who stands above them. Rather than ascending to meet excellence, they attempt to drag excellence down to their level. It's easier to destroy than to build, simpler to attack than to achieve. What we're witnessing now is retribution born not of justice, but of resentment, the bitter fruit of small people confronting their own inadequacy by attempting to demolish those who remind them of it. This is an ancient pattern: mediocrity has always feared and attacked excellence because excellence exposes mediocrity for what it is. The lazy despise the diligent. The corrupt resent the principled. The petty cannot abide the noble. True strength builds. True character uplifts. What masquerades as strength through retribution is merely weakness lashing out, revealing itself with every vindictive act.
Note: Though he hasn't mentioned it to me, my sister-in-law told me that my brother has been attending lots of rallies in OR.