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 . . . raging hypocrites…classless loons…liberal pervs…leftist professors…wife cheaters…misogynists…and more frolic through the headlines. It’s a good thing we don’t have any serious problems to resolve, or we wouldn’t have time to have this much fun eviscerating each other.
*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
How the Greenwashed Liberal Gentry Keep Out the Rabble
Leftist professor who celebrated Bush death has left the country — now she’s being widely applauded
Congressional Liberals’ Latest Attempt to Push Americans Out of Private Health Care
Are liberal pervs sexually obsessed with ‘refugees’?
LIBERAL BACKFIRE: NRA Breaks 15 Year Fundraising Record
Classless Loon Attacks Sarah Sanders, Blindsided When Papa Huck Evens the Score
Blue Headlines
With their tax law a bust, Republicans to run on their old favorite: misogyny
The Right Should Stop Denying that Americans of Color Still Face Injustice
Republican Governor’s Radical Tax Cut Plan Backfires, Exposes Conservative Economics As a Scam
Raging Hypocrite Mike Huckabee Whines About ‘Classless Bullying’ At WHCD
About Damn Time: WashPost Changes Jen Rubin’s Bio from ‘Conservative’ to ‘Center’ Blog