Most political battles have a "whisper campaign." Heated emotional content passed mouth to mouth via a wink and a nod. Also nicknamed "a brushfire," -- it's rumour and innuendo strategically structured to maximize the most frustration and anger in the most people.
What's this year's Whisper Campaign? I think Bill O said it best "Where's the wisdom in building a mosque near Ground Zero?"
Oh THAT whisper campaign -- but isn't that's old news right? Wrong.
Bill O's message is clear: "You are not us. Don't you think it would be a wise not to offend us?"
Yes. Where's the wisdom in a black man sitting down at a lunch counter where he is not wanted? Doesn't he know that he could get beaten up?
Where's the wisdom in a jew walking into a club where he/she knows they are not invited? Don't they know they could loose business contracts and jeopordize their reputation?
Where's the wisdom in a gay man trying to become a high school teacher? Doesn't he know he'll anger parents?
Yes Bill O. said it best. You will offend us if you choose to exercise your freedoms. This is powerful stuff. It is designated a "whisper campaign" because the us/them mantra sets off powerful emotional responses in some people that they must keep in check -- and only "whisper" it. Their heart starts to pound and their jaw begins to tighten and their fists clench and their head begins to swell. I'm serious.
Ah yes. This year's whisper campaign is alot like last year's whisper campaign. So, how do we fight it?
It's WAY easier than you think. Two things have happened in the past decade that takes the teeth out of this year's whisper campaign. One, everyone has talked about our nation's changing demographics and the diversification of the populice. There just aren't enough real people doing the whispering that's required to run a successful fear campaign. People frankly just aren't AS racist as we once were as a whole. Certainly racism is a long long way from being solved. But these days, many people have black friends and Jewish friends and gay friends. Some even have Muslim friends. It's very hard to buy into a stereotype when you actually know the people you are suppose to be whispering against.
And secondly, we the people now have our own compelling competing narrative. The populice is frankly getting sick and tired of the games and are far more intent on having conversations about solutions. While the Republican Noise Machine has been busy in it's bunker the past decade, there is a large majority of the electorate that are having actual conversations and political dialogues about the nature of good government. The Republicans are far behind the curve here.
But what can you do personally? If you recognize that someone is participating in the whisper campaign (knowlingly or unknowingly) you break out of your comfort zone and say something. No need to get emotional (because they certainly will be), but just say "meh, or "no, that's not I how feel," or something calmly along those lines. And launch into what is important to you -- the environment, or Citizens United, or education, or credit card reform, or the new healthcare reform, whatever. Remember, your issues are more important than their whisper campaign.
Word.