Be Careful What You Wish For

Among the most memorable short stories from my high school days was one entitled "The Monkey's Paw." Written in 1902 by British author W. W. Jacobs, it concerns three simple country folk, an elderly couple and their grown son, whose lives were impacted tragically when they tried to alter fate. Using the three wishes granted them by a talisman they happened upon -- a withered monkey's paw said to have magical powers -- netted them all dire results, giving rise to the adage, "Be careful what you wish for."

I am reminded of the story because of the continuing outcry from the most radical members of the Democratic Party that somehow Donald Trump's victory can and should be overturned. Things are already bad enough, and although I certainly wished for Hillary Clinton to lose the election, I never expected things to be so bad if she did, with rioting on the streets, racial unrest and an even deeper rift between the two warring political factions, not to mention members of my own family.

It is almost unimaginable how much worse things might get if somehow the so-called "faithless electors" were to actually switch their promised votes on December 19 and make Clinton the winner. If that happens, God save us all.