When they say they wish you dead, they mean it
Words are powerful and when enough people say dangerous things, they start to leak into reality
Around 10 years ago I heard the words of one of the Holocaust survivors on the TV. I don’t remember the exact wording, but he meant the following: “If anyone, somewhere, promises to kill you, believe them. Do not argue as we did then, before the Holocaust, that this is their policy, and that they themselves are good and nice people, that they just say this. When they move from words to deeds, it will be late. Trust those who promise to kill you.” I could not find that exact fragment on the Web, but the one I could find does not differ that much by the meaning.
Physical politically-charged violence is always predated by epistemic violence. Ideas you express, your identity, and worldview get labeled as inappropriate. Human minds are fragile and for them not to break when you do something morally depraved they need to believe that the actions they do are actually benign. They need to believe that their hate is charged towards those who deserve it. Humans need rationalization for the dehumanization of other humans. Once it is granted it gets much easier to oppose the enemies verbally and then physically.
Words lead to actions. If enough mouths are saying them, they lead to a tectonic change. Believe me, you would not like to be in the middle of a political earthquake when it happens. The last time it happened on the large scale it cost around 10 million lives. Read the signs, oppose the malicious tendencies, fight those who try to silence you, find like-minded people, and get together. If you can, try to convince and help your opponents cool down. Else… Well, you may run, but if you want to keep your life as it is now, be ready to protect it.
One of the first examples of such violence that ended in a tragic event that would be judged as genocide if it happened now was the destruction of Carthage by Rome. Ben Kiernan writes:
Delenda est Carthago (Carthage Must be Destroyed!) may be the first recorded incitement to genocide. These were the words of Marcus Porcius Cato, the Censor. Plutarch tells us that Cato's call ended his every speech in the Roman Senate, 'on any matter whatsoever', from 153 BC to his death aged 85 in 149. … One of his last speeches in the Senate, before a Carthaginian delegation in 149, was critical:Who are the ones who have often violated the treaty? ...Who are the ones who havewaged war most cruelly? ... Who are the ones who have ravaged Italy? The Carthaginians.Who are the ones who demand forgiveness? The Carthaginians. See then how it would suitthem to get what they want.The Carthaginian delegates were accorded no right of reply. Rome soon began a three-year siege of the world's wealthiest city. Of a population of 200,000 - 400,000 at least 150,000 Carthaginians perished. … Plutarch concluded: 'The annihilation of Carthage was primarily due to the advice and counsel of Cato'.
It was a long time ago and the war wasn’t civil, it was warfare between two states that ended in a total desolation of the loser. More modern examples of society in a conflict where two sides came from verbal violence to the actual killing of the opposing side were the Years of Lead in the 1960s - 1980s Italy.
There was widespread social conflict and unprecedented acts of terrorism carried out by both right- and left-wing paramilitary groups. Killings, bombings, aggression towards each other, and the state, from proclamations they came to bloodshed. Both strains of extremists were trying to overthrow the government and take over the power to rule. Fortunately, they were met with strong resistance from the strengthening state that even though supporting the rightist groups at first consolidated on the notion of crushing radicals on both sides. In the late 1980s, most of the leaders of both radical parties in the conflict were convicted or fled the country. Had the state favored any of the groups, the situation outcomes could alter drastically.
Of course, we live in a more civilized age. Probably, in the modern strive in the Western world there won’t be any killings. Some people will lose their jobs, some people will have their house trashed. Others will be beaten into submission and acceptance of the prevalent political position. They will be reeducated. But isn’t being reeducated and devoid of your genuine worldview death in a way? Also, don’t be so sure of civilised. Sometimes, if you don’t bend, they will take steps to break you. And if even if you do break, that may well be not enough. There is no truth, there is only a position, that is either the one they took or a wrong one. You should keep up with the pace. Or fight back. Or, if you’re brave enough, go out there and start a conversation. Maybe it is not too late.
Just remember one thing. Whatever you want to do, when they say they want to see you dead, you better believe them.