There is an utterly huge swathe of America who thinks the freedom to have and carry guns is the most important freedom there is, because “it’s the one that protects all the others,” and they will literally only vote Republican because it’s the only issue they really give a shit about. Adjacent to that is the belief that freedom should carry no responsibility or obligation to others. The Republican Party is the home of zealots who believe the world is black and white, and the majority of the country believes we are the best country in the world and therefore we are justified when we choose violence.

But also, my belief is that Americans aren’t really unlike other humans other than by circumstance. Globally, far right parties have been on the rise, not just in America. I fear we are the canary in the coal mine.