We, as Americans, cherish the freedom and right to disagree—which we do, often deeply about important issues that need resolution. But polarization undermines that freedom by tightening prejudices rather than opening thought, thus diminishing the chances for finding resolutions and moving forward. So while polarization may feel like a righteous champion of freedom and right, it is in fact just the opposite—a stick jammed in the spokes of the democratic discourse of freedom. Here are some of the common ways it does it:
- SEDUCES with loaded, heated language and childish name-calling that appeals more to emotion that reason.
- BLINKERS by using cherry-picked facts, and ignoring or mocking opposing arguments and evidence rather than actually addressing them.
- TRIVIALIZES by focusing on “straw-man” issues whose value in re-enforcing biases is clearly greater than their substance.
- BULLIES by making you feel like a dupe or a traitor if you even listen to the other side.
- FLATTERS with language and a tone that makes you feel like an insider, who, of course, agrees with them because you “get it” … just like they do.
- FRIGHTENS by portraying the other side as not just wrong, but a dangerous, evil enemy, replete with wicked hidden agendas.
- “CLANS,” that is, plays the “us vs. them” identity politics game of associating the other view with groups or people (implicitly) “inferior” to “us.”
- “TRIBES” by using the knowing winks and nods of sarcasm, coded language, words in quotes (suggesting they’re misleading) and innuendo which you, as a member of the tribe, of course, will understand without explanation or justification.
This week . . . was really bad. Scan through the headlines below. We’ve hit a new low. It doesn’t even matter if they’re from the right or left. What matters is that political discourse has slipped from disagreement to insult to profanity to physical action — heckled in a movie line…thrown out of a restaurant…rejected from taking a picture…declaiming “F..K YOU… Is violence the next step? The problem is, the worse it gets, the more tempting it is to take sides and join in. Who can not have an emotional response to this? Which is exactly why the polarizers never quit. It’s like political road rage. It doesn’t matter which side scores a point. What matters is the game of destruction is on, full tilt.
When reading these examples, check the above list and ask yourself: regardless of whether you agree or disagree, is this really advancing an intelligent resolution through the persuasive, rational arguments of advocacy…or simply fueling the fire of conflict through the divisive, emotional manipulations of polarization?
Here are just a few of the week’s polarizing headlines…disregarding whether they’re from the left or right:
Florida AG heckled by protesters after seeing Mister Rogers movie
This Bartender Got Fired For Being Rude To Trump Supporters. He Doesn’t Regret It.
Antonio Sabato Jr. says he was ‘blacklisted’ like Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Trump warns Maxine Waters: ‘Be careful what you wish for
Dem congressman refuses to condemn Waters’ calls to harass Trump officials
Seth Rogen says he wouldn’t take a photo with Paul Ryan
Trump staffer ostracism illustrates systemic breakdown of the left
Democrats Say Trump and Republicans Hate Children
The Left’s Unhinged Nazi Comparisons Drag the Discourse from the Gutter down into the Sewer
Raving maniac will obstruct justice in a single tweet but won’t speak Sessions’ name aloud
‘You Are A Monumental Idiot’: Army Vet Blasts Trump Cheerleader
