The Rise of the Radicalized American
When one typically refers to a person as being radicalized, it’s when referring to a Muslim who has been taught a radical, violent form of Islam teachings, and who is, or could become, a terrorist. However, I’m referring to people who are absorbing information that is divisive by its nature and then accepting it as true without critical thinking about its accuracy or competing points of view. At the current time, this person is likely a liberal female.
Now, before you think that I’m attacking the female gender or that this article is politically motivated, let me state that two years ago I would have identified the typical such person as a conservative male. However, this radicalization has become more pronounced in the past year, due to technology and communication methods.
Also, if you think I have no basis for these statements, please understand that I have researched this, and I note the supporting material throughout this article. I also have personal experience with this issue/problem/phenomenon, as it’s happening to someone I loved.
So, with that background, I’ll make my case.
Many people of both genders were surprised that Trump won the last election. Most men that didn’t vote for Trump (and I base this on me and other guys with whom I’ve discussed this topic) likely shrugged it off with something like “Wow, let’s see how the next four years will shake out” or “Oh well, the government is so messed up, he can’t mess it up much more, and just maybe there will be some positive things that come out of it”. Most women who didn’t vote for Trump (and again I base this on personal observations) got angry, wanted someone to blame and wanted to vent their frustrations. They formed a resistance movement to focus their anger to build obstacles to everything that the government attempted to accomplish. Actually that’s not accurate. They formed women’s marches and then the liberal political elite took over by fueling the collective anger into a movement and then used/funded/coerced technology for social media and the same with media outlets to continue to grow the anger. The resistance movement is not for the people or by the people, but a tool used by the elites to control the masses and return those elites to power.
OK, so the elites are controlling the masses. That’s been going on since the beginning of civilization when our species was created as slaves to the gods. But I digress. What the elites have done this time is to effectively change the consciousness of vast swatches of the American public. Combine this with the pent up anger within these people, and you have effectively radicalized them. How does that affect other aspects of their lives and the people close to them? Based on my personal experience last week, it can have disastrous effects.
Likely most people are aware that most news outlets have a political bias, some further to the right or left than others. For example, a politically contentious news item is likely portrayed differently on CNN than MSNBC. Where is the truth in the news item? I challenge you to an experiment. If you typically watch MSNBC for your news, force yourself to watch an hour of CNN (or vice versa). Then seriously consider that about half of the people in this country believe what you just watched. Who’s “right” and who’s “wrong”? What does your reaction say about your tolerance level? Are we all being manipulated? Is it time to quit fighting among ourselves, and instead fight the forces that are doing this to us?
The time is now to end this polarization. There is an urgency to stop the polarizing forces, as historian Yuval Harari’s presentation to the World Economic Forum in Davos explains what can happen when information technology and biological technology combine in the near future. This is important, so stop and view the presentation. Yuval Harari was on stage between Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany and Emmanuel Macron, the President of France.
What is this radicalization doing to us as a people living in this country? Most people would agree that our federal government is dysfunctional. Would it magically be fixed if the liberal elites come back into power? Look back two years to answer that question. If you still insist on answering “yes” to that question, how about I drop you off at 4th & Crump in Memphis and let you explain to the people there how the liberals will make their neighborhood safe.
Memphis has the most dangerous neighborhood in the country? East Los Angeles wasn’t in the top 25? What’s happening to this great country of ours? But we’re still the best country in the world, right? Best healthcare system? — nope. Best infrastructure? — nope. Lowest taxes? — nope. What happened to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Too grandiose? How about being happy and getting along with your family, friends and neighbors?
If you’re with me on this, then turn off all American news programs (use the BBC app on your phone to keep current on world news and your local newspaper app for local news). Also, and maybe more importantly, don’t read or like anything political on social media. If you don’t give the political elite your attention, they lose power over you, and you become more in control and happier. Pause and think about that last statement for a moment — collectively, we have the power to do this.
With that newfound happiness, go out and do something nice for a neighbor, and tell them I said “hi”.