This week . . . there were plenty of examples of how polarization fools us into believing we’re well informed, whereas in reality we’re simply being manipulated. For example, there were many passionate editorials about the issue of immigration. Reading them might make you feel well informed about it. Wrong. Because immigration is not the subject of these editorials. Immigration is the object of them. The real subject is the “bad guys” who disagree with you. Immigration is simply a stalking horse, used to show how idiotic or insensitive the other side is. Do a quick check when you read an editorial. How much of the it includes factual discussion to support a position about the issue…as opposed to the other side’s position on the issue? The terrible truth is, the emotion many of us have about an issue is often much greater than what we actually know about it. That is the dangerous, insidious poison of polarization at work.
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 most polarizing headlines, from the left and right:
Blue Headlines
‘I miss my wife, the kids, I miss Youngstown’: Ohio dad deported to ‘land he barely knows’
Trump’s Waging an Ugly Immigration War on Our Cities
Cartoon depiction of Dreamers as gang members draws backlash from New Mexico residents
Here’s the pricetag Senate Dems are charging Mitch McConnell to leave DACA out of the budget deal
Laura Ingraham and John Lott tout Lott’s debunked study attacking undocumented immigrants
