I am a liberal with sympathies for the BLM movement. Racial injustice is a very ugly injury on America’s soul. In my opinion, Trump’s rhetoric ripped the scab off and his policies have poured salt on the open wound. Cultural revolution is not needed. An end to partisan tribalism is. A concerted effort to bring rational discourse and decency back to the fore is required. A long, hard, and brutally honest national conversation about race is long overdue.
I do not feel that BLM should scare anyone. It is simply a cry for the majority to see people of color as equal and worthy of respect. Non-violent protest such as kneeling for the anthem or mass demonstrations should not be viewed as frightening events or rebellion. Looting, vandalism, and assaults are criminal activities. Sadly, scumbags do use legitimate movements as a shield for their activities. We should not group BLM in with these agitators just as we should not associate earnest social conservatives with neo-Nazi militias.
Marx penned his thoughts on religion well over a century ago. In the time since, the advent of radio, television, and social media have eclipsed religion as the predominant means of influencing the masses and reinforcing that behavior. Unlike Marx, I see peace and beauty in most religions and, since we are talking about American society, the positive societal influence of following Christ’s teachings. Universal love of your fellow man, thoughtful reflection on and correction of your own faults, and influencing others by positive example are very noble things. In this regard, religion is not threatening or confining. Sadly, many use a bastardized form of manmade “Christianity” as a club to control/shame people into compliance. I personally cannot abide that. If one grows up in that sort of faith, it is very difficult to break that programming and thus, the chains that bind you to that twisted belief. I am not surprised that religion gets a pass or causes personal conflict for a great many people. Where politics are concerned, the right is only too happy when the left brings up the negative aspects of religion. Even if the anti-theocratic argument is sound, it is a proverbial hanging curve ball for the right to respond with a simplistic slogan or some reference to “hating traditional values” and claim victory. It is why religion has always been the third rail of American discourse.
Back to media. All empires have used bread and circuses to distract from rot and corruption. Religion held sway for centuries. The Romans used gladiatorial spectacles in conjunction with faith. Today, sports, binge watching content, and social media are the circuses that distract us. Sports allow people without much life success or meaning to live vicariously through their idols or teams. It also promotes and reinforces the notion of tribalism. You may not have a job or have trouble paying your bills but, so long as your team leads the division, you feel pretty good about life. If your archrival’s squad is tanking, then things are just fantastic since “those people” are hating life this year. That’s a pretty powerful opiate. You are not getting by. You are not making enough money to take care of you and yours. Some already super rich guys are getting wealthier while slowly shipping your work overseas but, so long as someone has it worse than you, life is just great! Take that joy away because no games are being played, then what do you have going for you?
I am not a radical nor a revolutionary. I simply believe that some changes in thinking, some thoughtful contemplation, and open minds/hearts can make the country better. It is not an all or nothing proposition. We do not require absolute winners and vanquished losers, authoritarianism of any variety, or close minded “us vs. them” thinking for the nation to prosper. Let’s address the issues honestly, find common ground, and treat each other as true equals.
