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29th May 2019 01:08
Link to Post #1
Avalon Member
Political Polarization, Unmitigated Rage, and the Unbridgeable Divide
The divide between what is loosely categorized as “right” and “left” on the political spectrum has grown so contested and ugly it would seem we are now amid a sociopolitical crisis on a path to political warfare. Bigotry and hatred have supplanted rational discussion and discourse; emotion and rage now dominate the cornerstone of nearly every political argument. Very prominent Hollywood actors and famous musicians risk their careers and reputations and fan base to publicly cast hatred, rage, and vitriol against the perceived enemy. And while there has always been political polarization, healthy societies maintain the tacit tenet to agree to disagree; our situation circa 2019 presents a divide so disparate between the left and right that manners no longer apply; political tribes are aligning against each other, arguably to what seems a precursor to physical conflict. This dynamic has permeated even the closest of relationships and has torn apart families and long-standing marriages and is even presenting an existential threat to the stability of political parties at large. Given this milieu it would seem there is little chance to bridge a resolution of peace and understanding between bitterly divided political tribes, firmly entrenched in a cold war (for now) that ever threatens to go hot given the right trigger.
Recently in a thread here on Avalon a few members got into a stone-throwing contest while expressing their political views and were issued a temporary time-out by the mods to cool their heads. What struck me was the name-calling pejoratives from rational and thoughtful members whose posts are mostly reasonable and respectful and thoughtful. What especially struck me was the degree to which one of the members took the opposition point of view so personally.
What is going on here? I’m not so much interested in arguments defending or advancing positions from the left or right—although we can certainly delve into political discourse in this tread if it serves the question—as much as I want to try to understand what is at the bottom of the hatred and rage and mob mentality of the political discourse that affects each of us so personally, and how this rage has devolved into the seeming inability of otherwise intelligent and rational people to understand or at least respect the opposing political point of view? I am reminded of George Orwell’s Two Minutes of Hate, although it would seem Orwell’s prophetic dynamic of mob mentality more accurately describes a sort of 24/7 kind of rage prevalent in our current political discourse. Is this balkanization manufactured? Is it a psyop? Or is this just an organic ramification of our violent and warring proclivities as a species? Are some differences truly irreconcilable and is war and violence inevitable? As a final question, for those of us who believe all human conflict is ultimately reconcilable—preferably without violence--what can we do about it?
Last edited by T Smith; 29th May 2019 at 01:41.
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29th May 2019 04:40
Link to Post #2