The term "sadist" refers to someone who derives pleasure from inflicting pain or humiliation on others. I find myself reflecting on this definition more and more each day.
When I see that the official White House social media account shares ASMR videos of chains restraining immigrants or cartoon depictions of crying detainees in handcuffs, or when officials pose for photos in front of people in cages, the pattern becomes difficult to ignore.
Similarly, when our local and state politicians enthusiastically celebrate executions by asphyxiation or having prisoners gunned down by firing squad, we should be concerned about the underlying factors driving this behavior.
We hear our president and others justify their actions by broadly and falsely labeling immigrants as "terrorists" or by pointing to the crimes of the condemned. However, sadism isn't concerned with the object of such behavior — it's about the satisfaction derived from causing suffering, which our politicians seem to gleefully demonstrate.
When those in power appear to take pleasure in displays of dominance over the powerless — regardless of who those people are — we are witnessing something deeply troubling. I believe our country is increasingly being influenced by individuals with sadistic tendencies, and this should alarm everyone, regardless of their political affiliation.
JONATHAN VARNADO
Madisonville