Words Matter: When Political Disappointment Crosses a Dangerous Line

A recent Facebook post attributed to Beth Mcwaters caught my attention — and, quite frankly, troubled me.

The post stated:

“January is a ways off and anything could happen between now and then, he is not the mayor of our city and I pray he does not become the mayor of our city.”

Now, let me be clear.

I do not know what was in the heart or mind of the person who wrote those words, and I will not accuse someone of making a threat when I cannot establish that a threat was intended.

But I will say this: Words matter.

And when you say “anything could happen between now and then” about a man who has already been elected by the people but has not yet taken office, those words can reasonably cause people to stop, think and ask: What exactly does “anything” mean?

Isaiah Hugley won the election. He is the mayor-elect of Columbus, Georgia, and he is scheduled to take office in January. More significantly, his election represents a historic moment: He will become the first African American elected mayor in the history of this city.

That is why language like this deserves scrutiny.

We live in a country where political rhetoric has become increasingly hostile. Disagreement too often turns into demonization. Political opponents are treated not simply as people with different views but as enemies.

That is dangerous.

And given the history of race in America, we cannot pretend that words suggesting something might prevent a Black elected official from assuming office will be heard in a historical vacuum.

They won't.

For generations, African Americans who dared to vote, seek public office, exercise political power or challenge the status quo faced intimidation, threats and violence. That history does not prove that this Facebook post was racially motivated. But that history explains why the language can be alarming, particularly when Columbus is preparing to inaugurate its first elected Black mayor.

And yes, perhaps this moment should also cause those responsible for the mayor-elect's safety to make sure appropriate security precautions are in place — not because we should panic or assume someone's intentions, but because responsible leadership does not wait until after something happens to start thinking about security.

But there is a larger question Columbus needs to confront.

Are we prepared for this historic transition?

For nearly two centuries, Columbus has never elected an African American mayor. Now that the voters have done so, will we embrace the democratic process even when the person elected was not our personal choice?

You don't have to like Isaiah Hugley. You don't have to agree with Isaiah Hugley. You don't have to support every decision Mayor Hugley makes after taking office.

That is democracy.

But democracy also requires something from those whose candidate did not win: respect for the decision of the voters and the peaceful transfer of power.

There is nothing wrong with political opposition. There is nothing wrong with saying, “I didn't vote for him.” There is nothing wrong with holding the next mayor accountable from his first day in office.

But there is something deeply troubling about rhetoric that can be interpreted as hoping or anticipating that somehow an elected official will never make it to inauguration day.

We are better than that — or at least we ought to be.

And maybe the question before Columbus is bigger than one Facebook post. Maybe this moment is holding up a mirror.

Can we disagree without becoming dangerous? Can we lose an election without losing our decency? Can we accept Black leadership without fear, resentment or suspicion simply because it is Black leadership?

And can we finally understand that Isaiah Hugley's election does not mean white Columbus lost? It means the voters chose their next mayor.

Come January, he will not be the mayor of Black Columbus. He will not be the mayor only of those who voted for him. He will be the mayor of Columbus. Black and white. Republican and Democrat. North Columbus and South Columbus. Those who celebrated his election and those who were disappointed by it.

That is how democracy works. The ballot box has spoken. Now our character must speak. And if we truly believe in democracy, then our response to an election we don't like should never be, “Anything could happen.”

Our response should be: “I may not have voted for you. I may not agree with you. But the people have spoken. Now lead well — and we will hold you accountable.”

Because elections determine who gets the office. But how we respond afterward reveals who we are.