Actions and words of some people, 2016-2021, have raised doubts about the course and future of America. The incivility, cynicism, cruelty, hatred, and corruption reflected back on us is very demoralizing and unsettling.
From 1789 – 1980, there were some basic “American” principles we sought to achieve: “all men are created equal;” “if men were angels, no government would be necessary;” “We the People [not kings or church];” “promote the general Welfare;” “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Also the Christian Bible makes 2-3,000 references to the poor and obligation to them. Most major religions have a “thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself” clause.
WE thought certain things were understood and accepted.
The 2016-2021 mirror on America has revealed substantial numbers of Americans who not only do NOT accept and believe some of the above, but are openly hostile and seek to subvert the same. The antidemocratic actions and hateful words of the “doubters” have greatly alarmed and frightened many other Americans – even when they were not the “targeted” individuals. There is also the fear of to what extent the subversives intend to go to achieve their “vision” of a “real” America
Bad, ignorant, incompetent, cruel, corrupt “leadership” is one thing – dangerous as it is. The really unsettling thing is how many Americans appear not to believe in the 200 year old traditional American principles, ideals, and standards of conduct. In 2016-2021, they were given “signals” that it was acceptable for them to act out in public their antidemocratic beliefs. Ordinary Americans are seeing things reflected in the 2016-2021 mirror they didn’t think existed here. And – They are VERY frightened.
Some of the disturbing acts and words included these:
– anti-government – throughout the 1980-2021 era, we’ve had politicians telling us that “the problem is government” and running in opposition to the same government they want to serve under. In 2016-2021, groups backing this have appeared saying and acting out some very extreme things.
– anti-modern life – from votes and comments, apparently, a large number of Americans want to regress in time back to some supposed “perfect” age. The question is when – 1950?, 1919?, 1880?
– anti-sciencers – what, in other, civilized nations is only a medical issue, has in America been politicized, with tragic results. So – we have people refusing to wear masks, practice social distancing, etc. World-wide medical-scientific evidence shows this has made the American COVID-19 outbreak the deadliest, by far. The deniers, having been “informed” by a trusted media or political person say they “know the truth” – and nothing, especially facts, can change this.
Beyond this – we have climate crisis deniers, theory of evolution deniers [the basis for modern medicine 7 science], and on and on. Facts be damned.
– authoritarians – serious long-time comparative studies, plus 2016-2021 words and actions indicate about 14% of American adults are high “Right-Wing Authoritarians,” waiting for a supposed “strong man” to come along and lead them. From 1930 forward, we’ve seen the tragic results of this.
– cult-like followers – seeking to explain some of this recent behavior, analysis of some Americans, in comparison to previous known cults has revealed striking things. Lemming-like behavior in taking “medicine” that killed them, the January 6th insurrection, and more leads to a personality cult.
– fact-free acceptance – 2016-2021 was an era of “alternative facts,” tens of thousands of lies, conspiracy theories, political quackery, destructive propaganda distributed by government and right-wing media. “Kool-Aid” drinkers were much in evidence.
– hatred – perhaps most unsettling of all. The sheer ferocity of hatred seen on streets and on the internet was symbolized by Charlottesville and several church bombings and shootings. A man traveled to El Paso to kill people he didn’t like.
– “militias” and “patriots” – numerous times we saw angry, well-fed, armed with military style weapons white men seeking to intimidate citizens and governments into doing what these groups wanted done. January 6th, maybe, the culmination. The “maybe” is what frightens the rest of America.
– religious fundamentalism – religious zealots continued attempts to create an American theocracy, run by them. No tactic has been out-of-bounds in their “holy war,” including bombing and murder. Recent Supreme Court decisions, made possible by fundamentalists on the bench, have made this an increasing threat. Their slogan has been “religious liberty” – for them, not YOU.
– voters – the disgraced Dark One who presided over the recent years of all this received 74 million votes; has a reported 88 million Twitter followers; some who support him adamantly believe “he was sent by God;” millions took every word he said as the absolute truth {from a man known throughout his life as a liar] – & nothing could convince them otherwise. Foreign observers were/are stunned, some saying we were the laughing stock of the world; a Japanese talked of a “Voldemort presidency;” a Canadian asked why we hadn’t gotten rid of him – “he’s insane.”
Everyone has their opinions – BUT – everyone can’t have their own “facts:” nor be taken seriously when – based on world-wide evidence, including pictures & quotes – they’e been egregiously lied to and misinformed.
THIS is THE driver of much American division; THE driver of the bogus 2020 election being “stolen: the ENTIRE 2016-2021 period.
THE disheartening tragedy of 1980-2021 American lies in the millions of good Americans having been lied to and deliberately misinformed – as part of a political strategy. That strategy has produced 2021 America – a shadow of the middle class 1947-1973 golden age – indeed, a shadow of what America once stood for.
Some of the latest from the right wing “echo chamber,” a prominent “talking head”said this: Democrats want to put supporters of the Dark One into “re-education camps.” A colleague said: Democrats put on MAGA hats and infiltrated the January 6th rioters.
Ask yourself” why would they say such unbelievable things? They’re going to be proven wrong. Why the e3ver-escalating barrage of these type of lies? What is the goal of this? Did they do this – KNOWING their faithful listeners would accept it on face value? If so, America is in very big trouble
Consider the following from Professor Philip Zimbardo’s “The Lucifer Effect {Understanding How Good People Turn Evil}:” “Good people can be induced, seduced, and initiated into behaving in evil ways. They can also be led to act in irrational, stupid, self-destructive, antisocial, and mindless ways when they are immersed in “total situations” that impact human nature in ways that challenge our sense of stability and consistency of individual personality, of character, and of morality.”
John Dean and Bob Altemeyer, in their “Authoritarian Nightmare,” backed by much research over decades, go into much detail trying to explain the “why” of what happened in 2016-2021 America. Former cult member, Steven Hassan, wrote “The Cult of Trump” because of patterns he saw personally, and then researched.
We don’t know where all the money came from financing the January 6th insurrection – but some evidence has surfaced. We don’t yet know in somebody in Congress aided the rioters. We don’t know how the rioters obtained detailed information about the Capitol Complex, including how to identify unmarked doors. We don’t know the complete story on how much planning and coordination went into January 6th.
BUT – we DO know one significant thing. We KNOW the identity of the person who spoke to, and directed the rioters. We KNOW what he said – and HOW he said it. It is all recorded, live, on numerous sources.
We also know something else. A mob of insurrectionists assaulted multiple police. A “law and order” rioter deliberately killed a policeman. The mob was looking for two very high ranking government officials. We SAW a noose hanging in front of the Capitol.
We have a new president, a new federal government. BUT – we DON’T have a new American population. Much hope and relief has been expressed, here and abroad, that the 5-year nightmare is over.
This nightmare only disappears if several million Americans begin to reassess their beliefs, and more importantly – what is in their hearts. Do they want to?
When good Americans, radicalized by the 2016-2021 events, look into the mirror, what do they see?
With Justice For All 