I prefer to call it "white supremacy." "Tribalism" sounds so antiseptic and distant, and besides, there's nothing inherently wrong with tribes: humans banding together to survive when individuals and even small groups don't have much of a chance. The extreme right and the GOP have banded together to perpetuate white supremacy in the U.S.…
I prefer to call it "white supremacy." "Tribalism" sounds so antiseptic and distant, and besides, there's nothing inherently wrong with tribes: humans banding together to survive when individuals and even small groups don't have much of a chance. The extreme right and the GOP have banded together to perpetuate white supremacy in the U.S. Whether they are or aren't a tribe isn't all that important. (NB: At this point I'm not clear on what the NON-extreme right comprises, or even if such a thing exists.)
Many of us, including Jews, know that 'tribalism' is not 'antiseptic' as it can be anti what is chosen to be so. More about this subject, Susanna, often and soon.
Maybe if we substitute tribalism with nationalism we can better understand the direction we are being dragged. This brand of nationalism, promoted by both church and GOP, has nothing to do with religious freedom and national pride. This is the brand of nationalism used by corrupt politicians to turn a democratically governed republic into a dictatorship or the Christian version of ISIS.
The current effort to prevent a free and fair election is part of the overall plan to end our democracy. The propaganda machine has been chugging along steadily since about 2000 CE, with Fox Entertainment and Alex Jones being joined now by several outfits with different levels of expertise in sophistry.
The main source of GOP nationalism comes from history. Every authoritarian regime begins with a non-stop propaganda machine, calling for burning books and their authors, ostracizing everything and everybody who resist them. Only religions and tyrants call for the banning and burning of books, of making outcasts of every other ethnic and/or religious group.
We have mollycoddled these people too long with softer, alternate words. Terrorism is the use of force to change political actions. Insurrection is the use of violence against the government. So, let's just call the White Nationalists, the Christian Nationalists, the GOP Nationalists what they are. Terrorists. Fascists. Anti-American. Anti-democracy. Pro_theocracy. Insurrectionists.
I'm talking about the term "tribalism." Maybe that wasn't clear? How does one combat "tribalism," as I think you were suggesting? I'd argue that something that looks a lot like tribalism -- and is sometimes even called that -- enabled plenty of immigrant groups to survive in the U.S. It's enabled many groups -- women, African Americans, gay men, lesbians, etc., etc. -- to make their voices heard when lone individuals were easily silenced. So targeting "tribalism" as a concept seems to me to be missing the point.
They are people like my friend or cousin who are completely without representation. My friend would be considered well left of center even though, for the most part, his philosophy hasn’t changed at all since the early 80’s. One thing that has changed for him is that Reagan has lost his Respect as he has seen the consequences of Reagan’s actions.
I prefer to call it "white supremacy." "Tribalism" sounds so antiseptic and distant, and besides, there's nothing inherently wrong with tribes: humans banding together to survive when individuals and even small groups don't have much of a chance. The extreme right and the GOP have banded together to perpetuate white supremacy in the U.S. Whether they are or aren't a tribe isn't all that important. (NB: At this point I'm not clear on what the NON-extreme right comprises, or even if such a thing exists.)
Many of us, including Jews, know that 'tribalism' is not 'antiseptic' as it can be anti what is chosen to be so. More about this subject, Susanna, often and soon.
Maybe if we substitute tribalism with nationalism we can better understand the direction we are being dragged. This brand of nationalism, promoted by both church and GOP, has nothing to do with religious freedom and national pride. This is the brand of nationalism used by corrupt politicians to turn a democratically governed republic into a dictatorship or the Christian version of ISIS.
The current effort to prevent a free and fair election is part of the overall plan to end our democracy. The propaganda machine has been chugging along steadily since about 2000 CE, with Fox Entertainment and Alex Jones being joined now by several outfits with different levels of expertise in sophistry.
The main source of GOP nationalism comes from history. Every authoritarian regime begins with a non-stop propaganda machine, calling for burning books and their authors, ostracizing everything and everybody who resist them. Only religions and tyrants call for the banning and burning of books, of making outcasts of every other ethnic and/or religious group.
We have mollycoddled these people too long with softer, alternate words. Terrorism is the use of force to change political actions. Insurrection is the use of violence against the government. So, let's just call the White Nationalists, the Christian Nationalists, the GOP Nationalists what they are. Terrorists. Fascists. Anti-American. Anti-democracy. Pro_theocracy. Insurrectionists.
I'm talking about the term "tribalism." Maybe that wasn't clear? How does one combat "tribalism," as I think you were suggesting? I'd argue that something that looks a lot like tribalism -- and is sometimes even called that -- enabled plenty of immigrant groups to survive in the U.S. It's enabled many groups -- women, African Americans, gay men, lesbians, etc., etc. -- to make their voices heard when lone individuals were easily silenced. So targeting "tribalism" as a concept seems to me to be missing the point.
Susanna, Let's continue our exchange. I am not free now, but wish us to connect in the following days. Salud!
They are people like my friend or cousin who are completely without representation. My friend would be considered well left of center even though, for the most part, his philosophy hasn’t changed at all since the early 80’s. One thing that has changed for him is that Reagan has lost his Respect as he has seen the consequences of Reagan’s actions.