“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” -Socrates
It is proven that Socrates didn’t actually say this, but the idea is one that I am certain is underused in our lives. We are trapped in echo chambers that we’ve built for ourselves on social media and now all media is helping, and those echo chambers have become panic boxes (credit to Audrey for coining that terminology shift for me).
Media, social media, and politics have propagated a false dichotomy. The world is not black and white, right and wrong. There are infinite shades of grey in our opinions, and I believe that we are simply too scared to share them. They are messy. They are nuanced. They don’t fit in a meme. They don't have a punchline. They are thoughts others aren’t willing to entertain and sometimes villanize, so you’re hesitant to embrace or even possess them.
I am a shade of grey. Heck, I might even be a spectrum of grey depending on my mood, on the issue, on the context. So much of politics, of media, of social media, is based on absolutes. What good does that serve? Does that, in any way, help anyone?
In the wake of the disturbing, horrifying, terrifying events in Washington yesterday, here are some thoughts that I think are worth at least entertaining:
I saw a survey that said approximately 50% of republicans do not believe the storming of the Capitol was wrong. That number is really troubling. Put down your pitchfork and think for a minute. If they believe it is right, that means they believe...truly believe...that they are protecting their country. I don’t think they would find it acceptable to storm the Capitol because they lost. That’s a false narrative. I’m not saying (seriously, put down the pitchfork) that I agree. At all. In any part. I’m not saying their belief is justified. At all. In any part. What I am saying is that, if that is truly their belief, did they, in fact, act immorally? Are we as citizens of this country morally obligated to uphold democracy regardless of the perceptions of others? What is the best outcome of this? How do we fix this? Do we throw out the whole country and start over? Is this just a part of the fall of Rome?
There are a lot of images comparing what happened at the Capitol with what happened at Black Lives Matter protests over the summer. Have you looked for other images beyond the ones that have been cultivated for you that promote a narrative? Because I have seen images of violence involving police in both circumstances. I have seen images of damage being done with no consequence in both circumstances. I don’t like comparing the two at all, as I think they are inherently different, but if you insist on doing so, then how can you do it thoroughly and objectively? Is it worth the effort?
I think an interesting comparison is the CHAZ/CHOP to the Capitol. People stormed a government building. They were angry at what government officials were doing within that building. I will obviously grant that the Capital is much more high profile and overwhelmingly symbolic than a city police station, but how different are these two situations? The rioters/invaders/protesters/patriots felt they were serving both their beliefs and their moral values when they acted. They felt justified in annexing the building. Why are they different? Is it worth considering the chain of events of both and comparing? Is it worth comparing the media and social media coverage of both? How do our biases and echo chambers shape these events in our perception?
After the significant problems with the protests in DC in June, they passed (within a week) mandates that police in DC not use tear gas or rubber bullets against protesters. I saw many people angry that tear gas and rubber bullets were not used in the storming of the Capitol. First, why did no news broadcast that I saw ever mention this? It seems relevant. It is factual. It’s worth exploring. Second, what would the response be if they had used them? Would the narrative be that they’d overstepped their bounds as LEOs, broken the DC mandates, and should be punished? Would the narrative be that LEOs are indiscriminately brutal? Would the narrative be that ACAB except that one guy at the Capitol who used tear gas? Would the narrative be that it’s ok in this circumstance?
Why is so much attention being paid to police right now? Why is there so much hatred toward them? Let me break down my (admittedly entirely messy and biased) viewpoint. The Capitol police has just under 2,000 officers. That has to be split up into at LEAST 6-8 shifts for 24/7 coverage. I don’t know how many admin or other positions they have, but certainly they have some. Given that, you’re looking at an absolute maximum of 200-300 uniformed officers on duty at any time, as a rough estimate. If you have been to DC, you know how large the Capitol and Capitol grounds are, how many entrances there are. But having that many officers is plenty on most normal days. January 6, 2021 was not a normal day. They were completely and overwhelmingly outnumbered and outgunned. Most that I saw were lacking in even basic riot gear. That is not the officers’ faults. I don’t know why the higher ups didn’t plan for this and have more backup, more gear, more support. I know the National Guard was requested and then significantly delayed. I know that, as a matter of policy, USCP doesn’t use rubber bullets. I know that they protected the members of congress and got them out unharmed. I believe that they did what they could to protect the building. I’m unclear on what people wanted to see. Did you want to see a gunfight in the National Statuary Hall? Smoke pouring from the Rotunda? Blood and explosions on the Capitol steps? Did you want all of the officers to die defending the Capitol as if it were the Alamo? I believe that they contained as much as they could until they had the appropriate backup and then they cleared the Capitol, reestablished a strong perimeter, and arrested dozens. The hate and criticism feels like a red herring. They aren’t (or shouldn’t be) the reason you’re upset.
I keep seeing reports that Donald Trump truly believes the things he is saying. So then there are several options. Option 1: He’s right. This is a little scary for me, but it is even remotely possible that he might be right? Is it possible that our democratic process is just a sham? An intelligent deceit? Option 2: He is wrong, and he knows it. Maybe he is much smarter than most give him credit for and he is purposefully and willingly weaponizing patriotism. Option 3:He is wrong and he has no idea. He’s created his own panic box and everyone around him reinforces the idea that he is correct. Maybe he is truly insane. Maybe he has dementia. Maybe he’s just heard what he wants to hear so often that nothing else makes sense. Regardless, what should happen? If he’s right, what should happen? If he’s being Machiavellian, what is the consequence? If he is insane, should he be hospitalized? Does he belong in jail or an asylum? Do the why and the motive matter if his words and actions spark violence?
How many people do you have on your social media who disagree with you? It is a much more pleasant experience to go on social media and see a bunch of people who have similar beliefs to you than it is to go on social media and see conflicting and painful disparities in what people think. At what cost? When you unfriend, mute, and/or block the people you disagree with, it’s so easy to forget that there are viewpoints other than your own. It’s so easy to start to believe that people with differing viewpoints are wrong, are immoral, are evil. The loss of empathy is so quick and so smooth I think most people don’t even realize they’ve lost it. The world becomes simpler because other is bad, other is inhuman. They preach to their choirs, villainizing the churches next door preaching to their own choirs, and not knowing that there are significantly fewer heathens than they believe. I’m not saying to try to convert them. I’m not saying that others’ churches of belief don’t have issues. They do.They all do. I’m saying that you are not a moral pilgrim, missionary, or martyr. I’ve taken my metaphor too far again. I’m saying we are flawed, imperfect people. Some things are purely bad. Some things are purely good. Most things fall somewhere in between.
If I am on your social media and you dislike or disagree with what I’m saying, what is your reaction? Am I a heathen? I don’t feel like I am, but I have no recourse if you disagree. I will tell you that I am always listening to the stories and tenants of your church of belief. I am always listening to the songs your choir sings. Some I enjoy, some I am willing to dance to, some hurt my ears. Regardless, I won’t ask you not to sing.
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