It is unfortunate that our media completely fails at articulating anything that requires nuance or a complexity of understanding. Instead of taking time to explain. They dumb it down to a neat little packge for easy consumption. In many cases, the thought, the idea, the quote, loses its context or meaning entirely.
Sometimes it looks as though this is done intentionally to support the ideology of the news conveyor.
I want to touch on what this "clinging" thing is. The Iraqi man clings,
Oppressed groups in societies across the world have something in common. They "cling" to things. Why? It is not something new, or has not been disuseed before. It probably was touched on in the book: "What's Wrong with Kansas." (I haven't read it, but that's what I gather)
What I partially look to is Maslow's hierarch of Needs
The top two portions of this pyramid may be affected. I believe that their perceived position in society has a cost against their self esteem. What happens to people who feel that they may be "less-than?" or that the preceived powerful protagonist treats that particular voter like they are "less than."
Examples:
-An Iraqi man who can't provide security to his family, financialy or otherwise. Also, the ruing power of that land (US) is the protagonist and is perceived to have antipathy towards them. Or more general, Western protagonist in that part of that land has no respect for their religion or way of life.
*cling to religion and tribal identity
-The African man opressed by a corrupt goverment struggling to find its way after crippling colonialism. When people perceive that the people in power don't care.
*cling to religion and tribal identity
AfricanAmericans from the beginning of this land, and at least up through the 80's and "Reaganomcs"
*they clung to religion - civil rights movement was lead by the black church. And ethnic Identity..(move towards black power movement)
White lower income class in Appalatia
* cling to religion and cultural identitiy, which may include racism & support for the confederacy.
you get the point.
When these groups have to compete for resources, jobs & such. It does have in impact on how they perceive other groups. The reason why Obama is able to win states that have virtually no black people vs other states that do is becease the whites in the low economic class in Iowa, Oregon, and Utah, and such does not have to compete with blacks with reagards to jobs and other resources. However, in states like Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, they do. Or believe they do.
My first attempt at a diary. I hope it makes sense. This could prove useful in sharpening my writing skills I suppose.