Trump, Biden, Harris, Clinton, Musk, DOGE, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, tariffs, law-fare, or something else; what's your trigger word?  Maybe it's words like illegal immigrants, soft-on-crime judges and district attorneys. You know, the words or names that trigger an immediate response, whether or not you were asked a question or invited into the conversation.

            If your trigger words spark a conversation, that can be good.  If it sparks an argument, that can be okay as well as long as it is a verbal exchange between you and your counterpart and it doesn't turn to violence or threats of violence.

            Once it turns to hate, threats, or violence the argument has gone too far.

            Is it really worth losing friends or family over a trigger word or phrase that sets you off into an uncontrollable condition that renders you unlikable, or worse, feared?

            A political, social, international, or other condition or event may propel you into action for or against it, like protesting, boycotting, showing up at a meeting, joining a group, or even, perhaps, voting.

            When that word or phrase sets your mind on fire let your mind be the fire extinguisher.  If you need to react you can do so without sounding, or acting, like a raging whatever.

            Your reaction to those words or phrases can be controlled by you and could be an incident-calmer to the other person.  But there are people who can't. 

            Sometimes they act in the utmost, undesirable extremes.

            The firebombing of the governor's home in Harrisburg earlier this week is the latest example.  According to police reports the person accused of the firebombing was driven by antisemitism and fury over what Governor Josh Shapiro wanted to do to the Palestinian people.  He also allegedly said he would have beaten Shapiro with a hammer if he'd found him during the firebombing attack, according to a criminal complaint.

            The accused even called 911 right after the attacks and identified himself by name.

            The governor had earlier hosted a Passover Seder dinner for family and guests.  The family was asleep at the time of the attack.  Fortunately, everybody escaped the blaze and nobody was hurt.

            This is just the latest in a slew of attacks.  It seems we see and read about them every day.

            Some people have mental problems and can't control their violence.  They need help.  Others just won't contain their violence.

            Don't let a word or phrase trigger you into doing something you may, or will, regret.