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Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, The Visitation, 1640, oil on cedar panel. City of Detroit Purchase, 27.200. |
(In history groups like this sometimes go down some dark paths and its hard to derail them from their thinking so we might need to explore ways to break the self-containment.).
Let me share this obviously hypothetical fantasy. Someone wants something of financial value, is accustomed to being at the center of a social network, the social network thrives off rumors, they are intermingled with some law enforcement officers, feel a sense of entitlement as "true Americans" and are willing to bully people if they don't like them and/or can profit off of them. If we add onto that ethnocentrisms and disdain for outsiders and minorities (Which one could determine by regular verb/language usage, repeated behaviors and histories. There is a scientific way to show this depending on the amount of information captured over 4+ years.) then we start seeing a bigger problem.
If we went back and analyzed all of the information we may find that what was professed and the observable reality are very different (I cannot say what is or what is not but right now I'm likely 85% correct about most of it. Hypothetically as a thought experiment.). Its one thing to acknowledge possibilities based on available information but it another to make and act on conclusions without facts. Where you get your knowledge is important. General its best to read broadly and listen broadly about topics instead of relying solely on one's friends, one media type, one station, or one Facebook group discussion. (This is only partially related. It does hint as sourcing of information and critical thinking Americans Who Mainly Get Their News on Social Media Are Less Engaged, Less Knowledgeable)
What the group believes are based on self-serving manipulations of their leadership who created a socially constructed reality often known as the hate narrative (What does 'The Social Construction of Reality' Mean? - by Dr. Dennis Hiebert)
. Toxic opinions become the leading voice, values, and influence the somewhat loosely coordinated behaviors of the group. They sort of follow each other and when an opinion becomes dominant everyone goes silent. Mostly followers.
(As an interesting perspective, what makes this group ugly in terms of how people who have more experience/exposure might see it is also what makes it beautiful. That small charm and warm social connections can turn sour when people are exploited. The needs of the community, the safety of children, the very rights or our institutions were not thought of or considered in their behaviors. An indication of improper anchoring of values based around a preexisting poor group socialization. They could not check their assumptions and they could not manage their own behaviors even though provided opportunities to do so and think about the potential outcomes.)
This is also why I think they call me "the bitch" because I don't let others define me nor do I follow others rules. I'm a total social violator! Social violator that I may be, its not about me, it is a projection of their own issues, concerns, fears, and failures. And if I am in someway the factual "bitch" as they like to yell out to my kids, then I accept that as a badge of personal development. My kids had a discussion on how this group defines "bitch" as a nickname and why they act in such ways$. I was never a big money guy, I think its just sort of stuff to enhance a life but shouldn't consume it. Curiosity sort of drives me ever since childhood. i.e. space cadet and specigram were two childhood names. All science terms. Personally, I kind of like the a nickname like El Gato. Who doesn't love a friendly Cat?. Thanks. 😂💨)
It is not easy to change their minds even when their reality starts to break in front of them through more accurate information. It depends on the assumptions they are using and their ability to logically go back and determine that something doesn't seem quite right with the narrative they bought into and living proof of the embodiment of some type of mystical evil as contained in "the other" (Consider that most of the country is confused about race because of somewhat poor policies of the past. For example, my kids are mixed are White, Black and Arab. Let us say that pure Black influence is 30-40% of their genetic make up but White, not include a touch of Black Foot Indian from out by the Potawatomi Trip {I think my grandmother family were resettled there when the Black Foots lost in conflict. I don't really have the facts just stories and tid bits because that stuff really wasn't recorded and people who were mixed would sort of hide those things that got them shunned from the society. Good thing we don't shun our fellow Americans anymore based on racism!!!!}. Anyway.... if they are 45% White, 30% Black 22% Arab and 3% Native. The law once lumped them all into Black. Is that accurate or a miscategorization? It seems scientifically inaccurate but it persisted as a social belief in our policies even though the accuracy of that could be easily be disproven as accepted fallacy. Policies of Racial Classification and the Politics of Racial Inequality)
It will be interesting what the next steps are......
A single father standing up for his children and other's children to a group of 100+ people where some of the members have been circumventing the rights of our fellow Americans simply because it doesn't fit some poorly developed sense of superiority being called a bitch. Trying not to ignore the many aggressive acts of intimidation in the thought process. Considering the masculine trend of involving kids and spreading rumors to make one look "super cool". I mean hypothetically, it would be interesting if this group has other interesting metaphors they would like to continue to share. (I mean, I don't find "nigga babies" jokes funny but some of them do.). Hypothetically!
What does resolution look like? Some might say, "Remove 'those people' because they said no to us!" or "We should crush anyone who holds a line to protect their kids." might be some ways to temporarily silence alternative opinions and constructive criticism. However, does that really solve the problem and does that resolve the now open can of worms of how many other people were targeted and had their rights circumvented? (If you think based on all of these behaviors this likely occurred at other times then I suspect one would have to investigate what appears to be patterned behaviors. Typically, if you think about it and it seems plausible then I think it meets and investigatory bar least it comes out in a few years it was true and no cared enough to act. Especially in an environment where multiple people are claiming corruption from different areas where they felt their freedom of speech and sense of safety was violated. Hypothetically!)
This is where living our values and oaths can help resolve in a peaceful and long term solution that encourages greater development of society in the best interest of everyone (See I'm a lover not a fighter! I'm a pseudo pacifist so making assumptions about people with Muslim sounding names probably doesn't start the conversation right. Am I different because of me or because of how they see me? Charles Horton Cooley 'Looking Glass Self'. I like to call it mirrors or reflections. Theoretically you can test how people view you based on how they react to you in different situations. As long as you sort of watch and listen you will allow the natural beliefs and behaviors to come forward. You don't need to do anything but be polite, engaging and helpful which is what we all should do. They will reflect in you what they see. Much of that is what they see in themselves. i.e. he is low because I feel low, he is crazy because I feel out of control, he is a liar because I feel disingenuous, I feel there is something wrong with him because I feel there is something wrong with me, etc. )
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