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 school shooting in Florida understandably opened the floodgates of polarization around the issue of guns. Everyone, I am sure, mourns the tragic, senseless loss of innocent life. And there are probably thoughtful suggestions on how we might take steps to decrease the chances of this kind of horror being repeated. But polarization makes defending your side and accusing the other more important than finding solutions. Anti-gun people are concerned about safety. Pro-gun people are concerned about rights. It is easy to caricature and dismiss them. But doing so widens the gap of dysfunction and solution. Which, this week especially, is a grim reminder of the deeply serious cost of polarization. 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 a few of the week’s many polarizing headlines about this issue, from the left and right:
Blue Headlines
Senator who weakened background checks says they are all we need
Want to See Gun Control Enacted? Support a Movement to Arm Black Folks En Masse
Jimmy Kimmel fights back tears addressing Florida shooting: ‘Children are being murdered’
This Republican candidate is holding an AR-15 raffle, just days after Parkland shooting