I’ve a few comments recently that seem worthy of their own stories. So I’ve pulled them up here. This first is to both Btemmink and dsnottselliot. Subsequent comments stem from comments others made to lyleoross regarding Forgiveness. I believe these worth pulling up into their own stories as they touch on why and how though really caution against why not and how not. Functional governance is more important than sticking it to Trumpists or “teaching them a lesson.”
You guys got problems. You’re completely missing the point here. The people aren’t the problem. They’re merely the vector or medium. The link in the comment is highly critical of under-25s as selfish and lethal. This is patently false. They’re not acting selfishly. They’re reacting to the selfishness of their elders to include “The Greatest Generation” though mostly Boomers. These kids have seen the economy wrecked multiple times with extractive parasitic gains shifted to the top while they themselves are starved of opportunity. Bigger, they see that there was awareness of global warming influences known for over a century while for decades we’ve downplayed the concern and wrecked their future. This notion you attribute to them of “they gotta live the life they’re given,” that’s true. And it’s a shit setup we’ve given them. From personal experience, I can tell you they’re not selfish. I did a tour as a navy flight instructor from 2012-2016. That meant working with under-25s. These under-25s were the most capable of their peers. They could have been out making gobs of money in the civilian world. Instead they were making chump pay facing risks and future hardships. And they had a study and work ethic better than from my days when I and my peers were students.
As to the notion in the above story that these maskless people are selfish, evil, or otherwise bad. Again, wrong. They’re not failing to sacrifice because in their information bubbles, they haven’t been asked. They’ve been led astray. Now that they’ve internalized the deception, facts and requests won’t work. They’ll only increase resistance. The problem lies with bad leadership and information bubbles. People aren’t generationally that different. I’ve been sharing this photo from an apolitical group though with this particular region of the group drawing from red territory. Because of this, you know most are Republican maskless. And here they are trying to eradicate polio which still survives in the poorest areas of the third world. They’re not selfish. They’re not the problem. Those that have led them astray are the problem.
You need to start looking at systems. Fixing the immediate issue is going to be hard. Start with story and emotional connection before facts and requests. Also encourage government enforcement. This will create a pincer. For the long term, push fair use radio and social media anti-trust. Placing blame on the first level absolves the more impactful drivers of responsibility and need to act. Read Liars and Fires. Don’t focus blame on the last link in the chain. There’s plenty of contribution to spread around. Your well intended actions may even be contributory by creating further obstinance. Don’t try harder at failing methods. Look for others that may have had success and copy. Consider how to reach others. Try the Why, How, What Circle. Look into persuasion here, conflict here, here, and here, and try to have a plan for reaching those astray like here.
To lyleoross,
If this story stays on the feeds, you’re in for a large load of vitriol. I’m sorry for that.
And from the comment thread on lyleoross’ piece:
There actually was forgiveness [post WWII]. Without it we wouldn’t have had Bretton Woods nor the Marshall Plan. With these, Europe has known peace. Compare Western Europe with the results of Soviet punishment and occupation in the East. This is why all the noise about Versailles. A punishment mindset toward Germany and second class treatment of Japan and Italy contributed to fascist rise. Much like previous events through Versailles led to Robespierre and Jacobin chaos which led to Napoleon. It’s also like 2004 Iraq with de-Ba’athification. Punishment drove chaos and opportunity for those more maliciously minded. Punishment of leadership and key enablers would be just. Sticking it to the larger population of supporters is neither feasible nor would it be functional. Treating others as monsters is self fulfilling. Voldemort and The Death Eaters represented evil. Those working for them under the Imperious Curse, however, were another set of victims.
“Kommt Frau” was not justice. Such proves the punishment mindset is itself evil. “Kommt Frau” is what Soviet soldiers would tell German women as they dragged them off to rape them.
We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity - a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world…
We must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world. - Nelson Mandela
70 million voters aren’t criminal. We should be thinking three figures not eight when looking for justice. The administration, enablers, “militia” leadership, statehouse occupiers, and a specific convoy. We shouldn’t be looking at the 70 million as monsters. Such becomes self fulfilling and isn’t functional. We need feasible solutions. Such requires understanding and empathy. Neither of these requires any form of concession or compromise on our part in terms of policy.
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Wednesday, Nov 18, 2020 · 2:37:35 AM +00:00
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Fffflats
This is more a comment at large than an update. Though I wanted to target everyone in the comment stream below. Wow! You have all really impressed me. I expected vitriol and anger at this piece. Instead I found everyone came in strong in the conviction of their beliefs yet fully willing to read and appreciate others’ positions. While not always agreeing, many of you have found common understanding and common ground. You’ve shown empathy to others while still being strong in your convictions. That’s what this article was about. You’re awesome. Thank you.