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 . . . instead of taking the broad view and looking at blue and red headlines across many sources, I thought it would be fun to narrow the focus. Here are few days headlines from a single left, and a single right, news source.
The point is not to show that they are not objective – they don’t claim to be. Every trick of manipulation listed above is here again and again– seducing, blinkering, trivializing, bullying, flattering, frightening, klanning and tribalizing…and more I’m sure. The point is, imagine the impact on the mind, heart and soul of the reader who ingests this kind of “reporting” (from one side or the other) on a regular basis. And who would even want to?
It’s a sobering reminder of how addictively satisfying being made to feel right and righteous and in the “right group” can be. And why those “in the group” seem so closed off to any other view, regardless of argument, reason or facts. “Plugging my ears…Go away…And pass the KoolAid.”
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.
A few days headlines from . . .
GOP counts on their base to be stupid enough to still believe they have a plan to replace Obamacare
Trump thinks ‘Democrats give up when I turn out.’ Democrats everywhere fall down laughing.
Trump lashes out against free speech
‘He’s gonna kill us,’ says a Nebraska soybean farmer as Trump offers, ‘Don’t blame me’
Trump pulled Brennan’s clearance because he thinks it made him look ‘strong,’ wants to do it again
Despite a court order, two dozen migrant kids aged five and under remain separated from parents
House Republicans threaten to subpoena Twitter CEO over ‘discrimination’ against conservatives
As hundreds of separated migrant kids remain locked up, White House to honor ICE and CBP ‘heroes’
Donald Trump doesn’t know sh*t from Shinola either
Cartoon: Trump’s hate tape stash
Trump administration readies Medicaid changes threatening coverage for tens of thousands
Texas Republican shows what desperation looks like with lie about his opponent’s fundraising
Trump speaks out to defend hate speech, violence, and lies
Liberals Call for Boycott of MSNBC After Interview They Hate
CNN and Other Leftist Outlets Accused of Planning to Smear Manafort Jury
Pathetic and Senseless: Antifa Attacks Marine Corps Recruitment Office
Lib Biking Near ISIS Territory Says Evil Doesn’t Exist, Promptly Killed by ISIS
Betrayal: Fox News Anchor and Network President Side with CNN Against Trump
Watch: GOP Ad Should Run Non-Stop Until 2020, Shows Chilling Leftist Violence
Libs Would Freak If Trump Had Guards Boot a Reporter Like de Blasio Just Did
Gov Andrew Cuomo Declares America ‘Was Never That Great.’ But He Forgot What His Daddy Said
Terrence Williams: Trump Owes Dogs Apology for Comparing Them to Omarosa
Al Gore Forced to Admit Painful Trump Truth: Environment Suffering Less Damage
Trump Defies Collusion Narrative Again, Okays Cyberattacks to Protect Elections
Watch: 7 Clips of Omarosa Praising Trump that the Media Won’t Show
Brig. Gen.: Trump’s Right, Ex-Communist Brennan Is Threat, Needed to Be Stripped
Obama Lackey Says Brennan Was Behind bin Laden Takedown, Then SEAL Who Shot Him Fires Back
Violent Tolerance: Bloodied Trump Fan Says Rock Singer Beat Him During Concert
The ‘Tolerant Left’: Kimmel Says Christian Baker Has Gay Job and Looks Like a Woman
Benghazi Hero, Kris Paronto, Just Exposed the Real John Brennan. It Got Ugly Fast.
Unhinged NY Times Columnist Makes Trump Claim So Extreme MSNBC Host Reprimands Her – ‘I Don’t Think You Can Say That
Judges Shut Down Professors’ Attack on the Second Amendment
Mattis Slams ‘Idiot’ Who Started Apparently False Report About Trump’s Military Parade.
