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 . . . the only real surprise is that the latest school shooting grabbed the attention of the polarizers and finger-pointers as we might have expected. Perhaps it should serve as reminder that polarizers are more interested in labeling the “other” as the enemy than actually addressing real problems. So, this week, it’s pretty much business as usual, with the right being accused of “scamming,” “scheming,” and wanting a “police state”, with the left blamed for “courting felons,” “destroying home values,” “shutting down choice for birth moms,” and “eating their own.” And we wonder why nothing gets done in Washington.
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, from the left and right:
Red Headlines
The Left Continues To Eat Its Own
How Liberal Activists Are Shutting Down Choice For Birth Moms
According To The Left, Jeff Sessions Is The Devil Incarnate On Immigration
Democrats Know Their Core Voters: Felons Voting, As Florida Voters Will Decide In November,
Why Leftists Are Deviants And Most Of #Metoo Is A Sham
Illinois Liberals Destroy Home Values To Fund Union Pensions
Blue Headlines
3 Ways You Can Drive Conservatives Insane
Republicans Pretend Their Tax Cut Jumpstarted Already Booming Economy, But Voters Smell A Rat
GOP Tax Scam Is Backfiring With Biggest Money Donors
Republicans Share Deeply Twisted Logic To Justify Their Medicaid Work Requirements
Far-Right Freedom Caucus Schemes To Block House Daca Vote With Parliamentary Shenanigans
The Republican Solution To Mass Murders: America As Police State