Then there are ones like me that in the middle…we sit back and watch all this division and wonder how did we get here? It begs an answer…
Most people are followers and we all long for people to identify with and groups to belong to. I think that is simply just human nature. We equate being included as acceptance and love. When we aren’t included we feel unaccepted and unloved.
Most leaders know this. They find a platform they think will reach the most and they use it to their advantage. The followers flock to this person because they feel understood, heard and validated. The problem arises when the leaders use threats of fear, violence, aggression, intimidation, and lies to build a following. This is done in such a subtle way that the followers don’t know it’s happening and before long they have been brainwashed.
Fear is especially effective. I grew up in a Christian denomination that talked about hell all the time. It was an extremely effective mind control tool to keep the members coming back every time the church doors were open. As children and young adults it was effective to keep us in line at home. As a very young child, I was around 4 I had misbehaved, I really don’t remember what exactly I had done, but my mother took me by my arm and ask me “Do you think god loves you when act like that? Do you think mawmaw(my grandma) loves you when you act like that?” My first memory of god being weaponized, but certainly not the last. I remember feeling sad that I wasn’t loved if I was bad. That has had lasting scars in my life.
We are living in a society full of fear…democrats fear republicans and vice versa, straights fear LGBTQ, whites fear blacks and other immigrants and they fear white people…has anyone ever ask why?
Political figures plant these things in our minds…with social media and media in general we are bombarded with information from both sides! May be factual may not be. We see it, read it, hear it every. single. day! Most will not fact check what they read or hear because it’s time consuming and simply easier to just let it be. So it stays in our subconscious mind. Most us also tend to seek out information that will confirm their biases even if they do research further.
This is called confirmation bias.
confirmation bias, people's tendency to process information by looking for, or interpreting, information that is consistent with their existing beliefs. This biased approach to decision making is largely unintentional, and it results in a person ignoring information that is inconsistent with their beliefs.
Many will refuse to see another side or viewpoint because they are biased thinking their way is right, even when there are facts to the contrary. They seem to have the ability to reason their stance even in the face of opposite information.
Christians are the same. They will look for scripture, preachers, pastors etc..that will validate their deeply held biases. I know this because for 46 years I was a Christian with deeply held beliefs. Christians struggle with gays, lesbians, trans etc. they say it’s against the Bible and we are here to reproduce etc…they will not even look at scientific studies that show the brains of gays are different. They are convinced in their own minds and the Bible it’s wrong. They are unwilling and/or unable to understand how many times the Bible has been rewritten and reinterpreted over 100’s of years! Books left out, words changed. From the Codex Sinaticus to the Geneva Bible to the KJV all hold so dear. There have been multiple additions and subtractions over the years! Homosexuality being one of many things added.
People know they are gay many times from a very young age, yes the Christian community will tell you they can’t know…I have to ask them how did you know you were straight and what age? Another argument is well it goes against nature…so does being born with no arms, or Down syndrome or being mentally challenged. Should we ostracize and condemn these people too?
Christian’s especially are fearful of anything different from them. Witches are evil and scary, gays are trying to turn everyone gay, Buddhist are ill informed…political opponents are trying to become dictators and take our rights. Gotta put the Bible in schools to save our nation. In other words brainwash our children from kindergarten to make good little Christian soldiers! Sigh…I digress
Here’s the thing…you as an individual are free to believe whatever you want. But you do not have the right to put that on every one else. If you think gay is wrong, fine! Think that, but you nor anyone else has the right to pass laws, mandate, coerce, threaten, ostracize, demean or abuse a gay person.
If you think witches are evil great! Think that but again same as above.
If you think Christianity is the only true religion, great! That’s your choice. But you do not have the right to say everyone has to be Christian….abortion wrong in your eyes? Fine! Don’t have one!
Freedom means freedom for everyone…not just people like you. You absolutely cannot stand for freedom and then oppress others rights to be who they are and believe how they want to believe. Thats only freedom for you and those like you. The rest are oppressed. Just think about that! Is it freedom for ALL or freedom for ALL like you?
I have observed all this play out for years as a middle of the road kinda gal. It’s hard to watch, it really is. I see things both sides are doing politically to gain a following…I see the people falling for it and being less than kind to others on the other side!
Let’s all do better, be better and love one another better!
It all starts with the man/woman in the mirror!
Until next time, be a beacon of light in this dark world.
THL
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