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Oct. 2nd, 2024 06:37 pmI 100% disagree with the "good people on both sides" narrative. But probably not in the way that you're thinking. The fundamental problem with it is with the concept of "good people".
The problem is that both sides have -- no, consist mostly of -- people who *think* they are being good. Maybe because of propaganda, or complacency, or ignorance, but mostly by actively convincing themselves of it, as people have probably done since the invention of the concept of "good". Just like any cult, deprogramming people who think they're being good when they're not is a lot harder than just telling them they're not, or even why they're not.
There are a few people who know they're on the wrong side but are trapped there. Visibly confronting the issue might help a few of those escape, or help people who aren't trapped take more care not to get trapped. Maybe we're in a place where that is all we can do. But I am more hopeful than that, and less interested in the easy but partial solution.
Which means that we have our work cut out for us.
The problem is that both sides have -- no, consist mostly of -- people who *think* they are being good. Maybe because of propaganda, or complacency, or ignorance, but mostly by actively convincing themselves of it, as people have probably done since the invention of the concept of "good". Just like any cult, deprogramming people who think they're being good when they're not is a lot harder than just telling them they're not, or even why they're not.
There are a few people who know they're on the wrong side but are trapped there. Visibly confronting the issue might help a few of those escape, or help people who aren't trapped take more care not to get trapped. Maybe we're in a place where that is all we can do. But I am more hopeful than that, and less interested in the easy but partial solution.
Which means that we have our work cut out for us.
