Your editorial about the increase of extremism often leading to violence was supplemented in a later edition by political cartoonist Michel Ramirez. His cartoon depicting a bottle of poison was a perfect representation of the “active ingredients” of political extremism: hatred, ignorance, contempt and irresponsible rhetoric, with “side effects” of malice, division and polarization. Although the bad side of human nature has always been with us throughout history, a layer of civility often protected us from the worst manifestations of our more hostile impulses and behaviors. This was effectively diminished by a president who has made an art of nastiness. Donald Trump sowed the seeds of malevolent behavior by legitimizing hatred, name-calling, mockery, retribution and vengeance. Suddenly, for too many Americans, it became acceptable to emulate these bad behaviors, and the layer of civility has diminished and all but disappeared.…