Observations from a Trump rally

Let me preface this by saying I don't support EITHER party. I agree with the Libertarian party's platform but I don't even like their candidate this election. I am totally disgusted with this election and the choices (or lack thereof.)

Since 2008 (my Ron Paul awakening), I have only voted for who I belive will uphold the Constitution. Unfortunately if I stick to my strict standards and vote my conscience it looks like I'll be forced to write in this election (since the constitution party won't be on the ballot in NC.)

That being said I attended the Trump rally in Asheville, NC on September 12th . We got there late and a huge crowd had already gathered around the U.S. Cellular center. Outside there were street vendors selling their Trump merchandise. (I was surprised because most of the vendors were black men.) As I walked inside, I felt like I was walking through a gauntlet trying to dodge the protesters. I had worn my "Hillary for prison" shirt so I was able to cover the lower half of the shirt and get through the crowd unharmed.

We set upper right of the stage. Surrounding us on all sides were hard core Trump supporters. I was afraid I stuck out like a sore thumb since I didn't clap or cheer (but I also didn't boo, I was respectful). I felt by my silence like I was commiting blasphemy (as if I was not standing for the anthem). I was very unimpressed with the opening speakers (Rudi Giuliani is a man I have very little respect for.)

I came there to listen and see what the mainstream media is not telling us (and also for a little entertainment). We were setting close to the group that started protesting (I am sure you saw the scene on the news). It was very disrespectful. They started jeering and making a scene. The crowd was comprised of (mostly) peaceful people who had come to listen to their candidate and not cause problems, but the protestors just wanted to disrupt and scream obscenities.

All the media has shown is "trump supporter punches protestor". I watched the whole scene. I saw the protestor antagonizing the crowd and I saw a trump supporter take a swing at him, but didnt "punch" him. (Not saying the supporter was in the right but if it was a Rand Rally and someone acted that way in front of me while I was trying to listen, it would have me mad too. I'm sure I would have felt like lashing out .) The protestor even said in his WLOS interview he didn't get punched, his shirt just got grabbed. But yet the main stream media is pushing the narrative the guy got punched.

Anyway I listed (as much as possible with all the drama going on) to Trump's speach. I tried to find something I could agree on but other then repealing Obama's unconstitutional executive orders I couldn't find much common ground. Once the speech ended I was ready to leave and more determined then ever to vote 3rd party.

When we got to the door we saw couples grabbing on to each other ready to run through the gauntlet of protesters. We pushed out way through the crowd of screaming people. I have never felt so much hatred in my life. People inches from my face with their "love trumps hate" signs screaming F*** YOU!!! One girl got in my face screaming how can you betray your own gender and vote against Hillary??? (I was a little insulated she would assume my gender, it's 2016!) I also was insulated that someone would expect me to vote according to gender. I don't vote for race gender or party!

We finally got through the crowd and stood back to observe. I saw Trump supporters signs being ripped from their hands. I saw them kicked and spit on. The only aggresion I saw from the "right" was when signs, phones, and cameras were shoved in their faces. When Trump supporters tried to push them away they were accused of attacking people. I heard a few young trump supporters using bad language but the older people were quick to reprimand them for saying those things.

From reading the news it sounded like the left were there with their love signs singing kumbya but that is not what I saw. I saw more ugliness and hate then I have ever seen in my life. I have never been so provoked to anger and I've never felt such hatred directed toward me. Trump has never said anything that would ever make me want to vote for him but seeing that ugliness from the protestors it made me want to vote against them just to rub it in their face.

I still will be voting 3rd party but wanted to tell what I saw. I've never been so scared for the future of this country. We have been so divided by politics, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and this election has been used to divide us even more. The powers at be have played us against eachother because they know it's easier to divide and conquer. If you talk to a Republican Trump isn't their first choice but they think he is better then Hillary. I've not met anyone who supported Hillary in the primary (they just support her now because she's not Trump). If we could just admit we are being pitted against eachother and this is one giant puppet show maybe we could find some common ground.

"United we stand, divided we fall."