3.19.2004
Selling the Extreme as the ONLY CHOICE
We are a culture of extremes. Right, left, black, white, theist, atheist, this, that. Everything has to be measured by where you “fit” on the spectrum. If one expouses one point of view, they are quickly categorized, labeled, and dismissed according to that point of view. Our culture constantly extolls the virtues of taking a stand on topics and issues, and we make fun of anyone whom we percieve to be “sitting on the fence.” Anyone who is seen as a moderate is considered weak, because they cannot make up their minds and join the rest of the crowds on either end. However, your position puts you at one end, you will be generally accepted by that end and generally rejected by the other end, and visa versa.
The topics and issues which separate these two spheres are many, but they center around only a few themes- political, social, and moral. Some “overlap,” other do not. Generally accepted stereotypes are quickly gathered up and applied without mercy. Examples:
· All liberals are/are not socialists
· All conservatives are/are not rich and greedy
· Anyone who disagrees with the current administration’s foreign policy isn’t being patriotic
· Homosexuals are/are not immoral and wrong
· Abortion is/is not murder
· All religions except the specific sect, denomination, etc I belong to are wrong
· Anyone who believes that the recent flap over the 10 Commandments was indeed a violation of Church/State must be an atheist.
· Those who do not believe the U.S. is/was/always has been a “Christian Nation” is a traitor.
These are just some of the general assumptions being thrown back and forth in a constant game of tug-of-war between extremes. They are merely kinding for the fire. They keep the extremes embroiled in a constant struggle over who is right and who is wrong, who is the “winner” this time around, and who is the “loser.” It is a perpetual melodrama that never really gets resolved, very much like the soap opera.
If I were in charge, I would want to keep these sorts of controversies going. I would want people to be fighting amongst themselves over issues that will come and go and come back all over again. I would want them distracted, divided, and unable to see “the big picture,” because it means myself, (and my cronies), could pretty much get away with anything we wanted. So long as the people remain unable to see beyond their petty differences and unite, the people in power will find themselves able to get away with all sorts of shennanigans.
The power of politics, of the media, and of our disagreements is the power of misdirection, and distraction. It is the power of keeping the masses riled up, and perpetually tuned into the wrong stations. As long as the waves of misperceptions, misrepresentations, hysteria, and emotionalism and soundbytes keep pounding the shores, people will remain in their comatose states believing that their stance is the only one, and any compromise is wrong.
© 2004, J.S. Brown
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The topics and issues which separate these two spheres are many, but they center around only a few themes- political, social, and moral. Some “overlap,” other do not. Generally accepted stereotypes are quickly gathered up and applied without mercy. Examples:
· All liberals are/are not socialists
· All conservatives are/are not rich and greedy
· Anyone who disagrees with the current administration’s foreign policy isn’t being patriotic
· Homosexuals are/are not immoral and wrong
· Abortion is/is not murder
· All religions except the specific sect, denomination, etc I belong to are wrong
· Anyone who believes that the recent flap over the 10 Commandments was indeed a violation of Church/State must be an atheist.
· Those who do not believe the U.S. is/was/always has been a “Christian Nation” is a traitor.
These are just some of the general assumptions being thrown back and forth in a constant game of tug-of-war between extremes. They are merely kinding for the fire. They keep the extremes embroiled in a constant struggle over who is right and who is wrong, who is the “winner” this time around, and who is the “loser.” It is a perpetual melodrama that never really gets resolved, very much like the soap opera.
If I were in charge, I would want to keep these sorts of controversies going. I would want people to be fighting amongst themselves over issues that will come and go and come back all over again. I would want them distracted, divided, and unable to see “the big picture,” because it means myself, (and my cronies), could pretty much get away with anything we wanted. So long as the people remain unable to see beyond their petty differences and unite, the people in power will find themselves able to get away with all sorts of shennanigans.
The power of politics, of the media, and of our disagreements is the power of misdirection, and distraction. It is the power of keeping the masses riled up, and perpetually tuned into the wrong stations. As long as the waves of misperceptions, misrepresentations, hysteria, and emotionalism and soundbytes keep pounding the shores, people will remain in their comatose states believing that their stance is the only one, and any compromise is wrong.
TANSTAAFL!
© 2004, J.S. Brown
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