Are We There Yet? We Are Close and Here is How I Can Tell
 

Are We There Yet? We Are Close and Here is How I Can Tell

A very good op-ed by a "random guy on the internet" (not me). You can go to the link and can see comments by many on the right to get a feel for their thought process on current events. I've been a member and contributor to that site since 1997. It is not copywrited so here it is in its entirety (for those that don't want to click on a link):

We have witnessed a horrible year. And many of us recognize some of what is happening around us as propaganda, gaslighting, and out right manipulation. We ponder who and when something will be done. We do not have blinders on and yet do not understand what we witness happening before us.

Earlier this morning I read on another thread, Princeton University professor and MSNBC contributor Eddie Glaude, Jr. refer to the moral rot in our society and that President Trump is its avatar. We use the word avatar for many different things in the modern world, but consider the first meaning of avatar. A deity incarnate. Given the statement of the Professor, what is he thinking President Trump actually is? A deity of moral rot and we are the demons that follow him? While it is repugnant that such a statement was even made, it is far, far more important to realize it was not verbalized in some backroom somewhere. It was stated in public, in mass media, and has now gone "viral." Thus adding more gravitas to the dangerous statement.

I expound on this concept because the modern world has its fair share of evil avatars in video games to marketing. This was an attempt to dehumanize the man, the human, Donald Trump. But it is not just him that the comment was meant to dehumanize. It was directed at us. At a time when they mouth the words about coming together, we also here the hypocrisy of their attempts to remove us. A simple search of the internet will proffer enough headlines to make the point. Below are just a few.

Nov 9, 2020 — Over the weekend, people started making lists. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez kicked things off on Friday with a tweet that terrified Trumpworld.

Michigan state rep. threatens 'Trumpers,' calls on 'soldiers' to 'make them pay' Thu, December 10, 2020, 12:15 PM EST

Startling threats and violence against GOP voters: Part of a ...www.foxnews.com › politics › startling-threats-and-violen... Feb 17, 2020 — A startling rash of threats and violent incidents targeting Republican

They are moving into the dehumanizing aspect of the overthrow of the country. I do not say this lightly. I am referring to the full on psychological set-up of the making us sub-human, sub-moral and ultimately therefore disposable. We've entered into the last phase. We hear the words, 'America is at a dangerous point," but I do not think conservatives fully grasp yet how dangerous it actually is. Dehumanization is a tactic of war, it is not the result from war. It starts long before anyone realizes what is happening. We question the hypocrisy of the left, we are frustrated by it and why laws apply to us, but not to them? It is because we are already very far down this dangerous path. We have reached the point where the violation of norms against us seem reasonable and necessary.

The first noticeable seed was planted when Hillary called us a basket of deplorables. WE rightly accepted her degrading moniker and it backfired on her campaign. She went from campaigning against a political opponent to attacking the supporters. This was followed by Pelosi and Schumer taking up the mantel and creating false narratives and hoax scandals. And finally we watch liberal social media entities controlling the flow of information such that opposing viewpoints or conservative points or even constitutional ones are censored.

We as a culture have moved from laughing when someone says they 'saw it facebook/twitter' to having 'fact checkers' to stop the flow of information. Consider how many times one views a 'twitter' post here on FR recently! A short sentence or two, often with no context, posted on what is supposed to be a great aggregate site for conservative political discourse? WE are falling into that trap as well.

Dehumanization happens on both sides of this conflict. It is only the level of intensity that is unequal at the moment. Make no mistake regarding the recent rhetoric from the left, they will physically come for us, destroy your reputation, and your business if you have one. In fact, it feels like in many areas of our nation that has already started. And it is no longer just a bit of smoke at a small fire, it is spreading and once this election stuff appears to be settled it is going to be a raging wildfire.

Dehumanization, well here we are:

"Psychologically, it is necessary to categorize one's enemy as sub-human in order to legitimize increased violence or justify the violation of basic human rights. Moral exclusion reduces restraints against harming or exploiting certain groups of people. In severe cases, dehumanization makes the violation of generally-accepted norms of behavior regarding one's fellow man seem reasonable, or even necessary." Maiese, Michelle. "Dehumanization." Beyond Intractability. Eds. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. Conflict Information Consortium, University of Colorado, Boulder. Posted: July 2003 .

This is the stage we are at, the last stage in the process. Moral exclusion. Consider everything they are saying that makes us immoral, these things will be used against us in the near future. Trump supporter, Christian, Law & Order, White Privilege, failing to be an ally to the LGBT community, they are even getting their way by taking Christmas away, closing churches, virtue signal mask wearing etc.

And we are not immune to their disease of dehumanization. Posts right here on this thread view them as evil too. I have seen a few posts on the threads in the Religion forum also stating ...'they've made their choice, Jesus come quickly.' Our minds are made up they cannot be saved but I just remind myself, Jesus came so none might perish. And it is that attitude, blessing, empathy that is the inoculation against dehumanization.

Regrettably it is this same Jesus that is considered immoral to the left. They have decided we're not worthy of life, liberty, or happiness.

Bascally another call to arms post, WWJD?

A lot of whining.

Kinda like the riots and looting, only less violent and with a bit more respect for other people's property. :D

I see it more as an observation, and a very well articulated one. Of course, one's bias may affect what they glean from the content.

I will add, I don't think you read it. That is not what it is about at all.

Another stand reality on its head tactic. Accuses the left of what the right has been doing in spades. Who shows up at people's houses in mass with AR-15s? Who invades state capitols armed, and plots to kidnap governors? Who scared Ohio public health administrator Amy Acton into quitting with death threats? Who has a Republican legislator admitting on the record that threats of violence are driving Republicans to support Trumps 'big one' lawsuit? A few on the left reacting with forceful rhetoric to this stuff dies not mean the left is creating this breakdown of the peaceful social order.

Straight up projection.

Projection and biased perceptions drive sincere if mistaken belief. But this belief is being driven in many cases by cynical, manipulative propaganda. Can be hard to tell one from the other sometimes.

Like a petulant child that misbehaves to get attention, any attention, from it's parents. :rolleyes:
I can't believe you guys are still feeding this troll.

...and that's the news from Dumbfuckistan... :rolleyes:

You're the caller.

Is that your final answer? I find your projecting by accusing them of projecting comical. You can find examples of bad behavior in all camps if you look hard enough. But the author is pointing out something that is everywhere in plain sight. Why do you think Cynthia Johnson is in the pickle she's in?

And how about that constant drumbeat of impeachment and the Russiagate fiasco? And the riots. And the looting. and the etc., etc., etc.?

That's actually the point of the article. It's being taken to the next level and has been going through levels for a while now. And history tells us where it's headed. Remember, Nazi's didn't start their power grab by gassing jews. That came a decade later. First they had to dehumanize them.

I love JOJO Rabbit. Great movie, BTW.

The most important warning to the right in the article is to conservatives that we don't play the dehumanizing card against the left. This is one reason I cut the left so much slack. They are mostly just kids that will grow out of it. However, when kids become dangerous, well, adults can become dangerous to the kids. But in a land of law and order neither will happen to any significant degree.

No it's not my final answer, I've got plenty more. Here is some:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sq8WYQB2YH0#searching

That's a TV news spot detailing the outpouring of racist GOP hate dumped on Rep. Cynthia Collins. Her 'tread lightly' response, that you are trying to make so much of, is pleasant and polite compared to the racist abuse bei g thrown at her. Your team should be begging forgiveness on your knees for these despicable attacks by your people. That the GOP house majority instead level over-the-top sanctions on her is an outrageous display of blaming the victim.

The lynch mob doesn't like it when someone stands up to them? Cry me a river

There is a meme thread, just sayin.:cool:

Looks like you've got yourself a net nanny, Chicks. :rolleyes:

Imploding MAGA World Turns to Civil War Fantasies, Secession After Supreme Court Disaster
TRIGGERED
In an epic dummy spit, vloggers Diamond & Silk called for military intervention and internet troll Milo Yiannopoulos said the only options left were war or secession.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/implod...court-disaster

Are they all as idiotic as this Insane clown!? :rolleyes:

You sure have a big problem with the "insane clown". The extent you go to, to attack him, makes it seem like he is a legitimate threat to you.

Well he is the OP with a post alluding to violence, IJS.

If anyone thinks this Republican unrest will all settle down after Monday hasn't been paying attention. All driven by a little man in the biggest reality show of his life.

Yes he is. I don't see IC as as at all stupid or insane or duped, as Chicks may--unless you consider amoral as insane. But I see him as doing his bit to support a regime that looks very much like it will try to cling to power through political violence, and who seems to be participating in propaganda to enable that. That he's competent, as he appears to me, is a shame, just makes him more effective as an influencer.

I disagree. He's so obviously disseminating right wing propaganda that anyone who's not already a Trump supporter will recognize it for what it is. That's not to say he's not dangerous as shit stirrers often are.

It does matter if you recognize it. The purpose of the propaganda isn't to convert you. It's to demoralize you.

And more sympathetic persons may be radicalized.

Good point, but I don't think he's all that dangerous. He can be quite entertaing though.

How Eric Metaxas went from Trump despiser to true believer
How a onetime aspiring public intellectual and Trump doubter turned into a true believer in stolen elections.

https://religionnews.com/2020/12/03/...sidney-powell/

The poor guy was once a moderate conservative, who couldn't get the time of day from Faux "News". So, he morphed into something like our Insane clown, and now makes $millions. Simple formula, followed by many in Reich-wing media, who just want fame and fortune. Sad, but taking advantage of poor, ignorant, uninformed fools is a great way to get rich in America. :rolleyes:

It's a "somebody's gonna do it so it might as well be me" type of thing.