AURORA, Colo. — Between downtown Aurora and Denver International Airport lies the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, where former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at a rally Friday.
Thousands of people were already seen lining up at the resort’s parking lot Thursday at Denver 7 ahead of President Trump’s visit. Not far away, Richard Foster is setting up a tent for Trump merchandise.
“We go to every rally we can,” Foster said of the tent, which is stocked with everything from a Trump bobblehead to a Trump teddy bear.
Foster said he has always been a supporter of Trump.
“The current situation hasn’t gotten any better over the last four years, and when Trump took office, he was actually making changes that were going to get better,” Foster said.
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Philip Chen, an associate professor of political science at the University of Denver, said individuals are becoming increasingly attached to their political party.
“What we think of as our political identity today is really our social identity,” Chen said. Our party has become far more hostile to its opponents than it probably was 20 years ago. ”
According to Chen, sales of candidate merchandise accelerated during the 2016 Trump campaign.
“Today we often compare our political identity to our identity about our favorite sports team, right? We feel good when our team wins and we feel bad when our team loses. In a sense, it’s no surprise that we might see an increase in commodification, or this kind of eye-catching endorsement, because it’s such a powerful part of so many people’s social identities today. There are more ways to look at things,” Chen explained.
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Dr. Randy Smith is a licensed psychologist and professor of psychology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Politics and mental health are colliding more frequently in Smith’s office than in years past.
“That makes sense, given the escalation of rhetoric and escalation of violence, including the violence we saw on January 6th against Donald Trump with two assassination attempts. So this time. There’s a lot more anxiety around things that are taking longer than usual,” Smith said. “Right now, there is more polarization, people are actually choosing sides, there is less empathy and understanding with those who might vote differently, and there are fewer meaningful and respectful conversations. It is becoming.”
Humans are social creatures, so it makes sense to Smith that we still act as a kind of herd animal, forming groups with others who share similar ideas and ideals. .
“What they have in common is just seeking the comfort of people who are like themselves, people who are safe. There’s something beneficial about that,” Smith explained. have different ideologies. ”
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Smith suggested some ways to support the mental health of people who are experiencing increased anxiety as the November election approaches.
“That might mean it’s a good idea to take a break from social media, or at least go on a diet. Cut back a little bit on what you’re consuming. That might mean socializing in a non-political way,” Smith said. “I get together with friends and go bowling, go hiking, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors, but I never get too caught up in the feeling that everything is in balance.”
Ticket holders will be able to enter the Trump rally starting at 9 a.m. Friday, and the former president is scheduled to speak at 1 p.m.
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