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You want a return to unity and civility? Me too.
But wanting it--or even advocating for it--isn't going to do anything.
Let me tell you why. Thread:
But wanting it--or even advocating for it--isn't going to do anything.
Let me tell you why. Thread:
Let's take a lesson from one of the best shows currently available: Cobra Kai.
In this modern-day spinoff of the Karate Kid, rival Karate dojos escalate their mutual animosity, culminating in what can only be described as a deadly gang brawl at the conclusion of season 2.
In this modern-day spinoff of the Karate Kid, rival Karate dojos escalate their mutual animosity, culminating in what can only be described as a deadly gang brawl at the conclusion of season 2.
In the aftermath, the impotent, politically-correct school system implements a zero-tolerance policy for violence and an initiative called "hugs, not hits."
Meanwhile the hippie feminists hold hands and sing songs to the effect of "let's just get along and be friends."
Meanwhile the hippie feminists hold hands and sing songs to the effect of "let's just get along and be friends."
Watching that response, my instinct was to audibly and sarcastically exclaim "'Let's just get along and be friends?' Why didn't I think of that?!"
Because obviously, the hippies' approach ignored the underlying problems--real or perceived--driving the animosity and division.
Because obviously, the hippies' approach ignored the underlying problems--real or perceived--driving the animosity and division.
In like manner, the school's response ignored an essential reality: the reason Karate made an explosive comeback in the first place was the culture of impotent paternalism that had left kids COMPLETELY unprepared for the intransigent realities of predatory bullying.
In fact, the school brawl was not inevitable. It was the predictable result of repeated, escalating failures by the authorities to hold individuals accountable for their wrongdoing. With no more peaceful means of conflict resolution available, the situation turned violent.
What does this have to do with the current state of our politics?
In a word: everything.
There are predatory crybullies terrorizing good people in this country. They use every weapon of institutions, culture, and violence to cram down a repulsive vision by force.
In a word: everything.
There are predatory crybullies terrorizing good people in this country. They use every weapon of institutions, culture, and violence to cram down a repulsive vision by force.
The civility and good nature of the recipients of this abuse became the tools of their tormentors--vulnerabilities to be exploited for political gain. And everywhere the machinery of government, media, corporations, schools, and big tech were martialed to protect the abusers.
So predictably, the American people stood up to the abuse. They abandoned the civility that was being weaponized against them and started pushing back.
Naturally, this increased the temperature of our public discourse.
Naturally, this increased the temperature of our public discourse.
Now many lament the death of civility and call for a return to unity. I understand that sentiment. But I'm also tempted to sarcastically remark, "Gee, why didn't I think of that?"
You're asking the victims of unconscionable abuse to unilaterally deescalate a conflict without addressing the underlying problems--real or imagined--that created the conflict in the first place.
Can you see why that's untenable?
Can you see why that's untenable?
Here's a hard truth: the crybullies can stop their abuse any time they want.
They can stop suing Christian bakers.
They can stop rigging elections.
They can stop suing nuns.
They can stop censoring us on social media.
They can stop making false accusations of rape and racism
They can stop suing Christian bakers.
They can stop rigging elections.
They can stop suing nuns.
They can stop censoring us on social media.
They can stop making false accusations of rape and racism
They can stop running blatantly dishonest smear campaigns in the news.
They can stop getting us thrown out of our jobs.
They can stop digging up old tweets to get us thrown out of school.
They can stop burning down our cities on the pretense of fictitious police brutality.
They can stop getting us thrown out of our jobs.
They can stop digging up old tweets to get us thrown out of school.
They can stop burning down our cities on the pretense of fictitious police brutality.
They can stop anytime they want, and we can return to a culture of civility. They don't have to give up their passion or their principles. Just their dishonest, abusive tactics. Then we can talk rationally about whether their ideas are worth implementing.
Until then, however, you're going to see more division and animosity, no matter how loudly you call for civility and unity.
In all candor, I've never been an enthusiastic Trump fan.
I don't love some of what the Republicans are doing to relitigate the 2020 presidential election--even though I have concerns about how much fraud may have occurred.
I don't love some of what the Republicans are doing to relitigate the 2020 presidential election--even though I have concerns about how much fraud may have occurred.
I hate that people came to Pelosi's house and Schumer's house.
I don't like that Romney was yelled at on his flight.
But to my friends on the left who are horrified by this behavior, I have to ask: what did you think was going to happen?
I don't like that Romney was yelled at on his flight.
But to my friends on the left who are horrified by this behavior, I have to ask: what did you think was going to happen?
What did you think was going to happen when you called Brett Kavanaugh a rapist based on no evidence whatsoever?
What did you think was going to happen when you called Trump a Russian secret agent for four years based on a fake piece of oppo research?
What did you think was going to happen when you called Trump a Russian secret agent for four years based on a fake piece of oppo research?
What did you think was going to happen when you doxed a high school kid because he smiled awkwardly at an aggressive geriatric grifter?
What did you think was going to happen when you made us sit down for racist, Robin Deangelo HR indoctrination?
What did you think was going to happen when you made us sit down for racist, Robin Deangelo HR indoctrination?
What did you think was going to happen when you impeached a sitting president because he suggested that an obviously corrupt politician be investigated, and then proceeded to elect that obviously corrupt politician?
What did you think would happen?
What did you think would happen?
I'm as excited for a return to civility as anybody you're going to find.
But unilateral disarmament isn't going to work.
You don't send a battered wife back into her abusive home because the divorce process is getting ugly.
But unilateral disarmament isn't going to work.
You don't send a battered wife back into her abusive home because the divorce process is getting ugly.
Liberals, if you still want to share this country, you need to quit tolerating this behavior from the left.
Conservatives are happy to abandon prison rules, but your side started this decades ago, so we're going to need a SERIOUS show of good faith on your part.
Conservatives are happy to abandon prison rules, but your side started this decades ago, so we're going to need a SERIOUS show of good faith on your part.
You want unity and civility? That's your recipe. That's what's going to work.
Anything else is surrender, and that's simply not going to happen.
Anything else is surrender, and that's simply not going to happen.
