Tuesday 7 December 2021

Culture Wars

Just by saying that the present UK government has seen what encouraging (or at least not discouraging) 'Culture Wars' did for President Trump, I am engaging in one myself. In one sentence I have set half the world against me and the other half for me.

The conspiracy theorist in me (we all have a bit of one) is beginning to think that the divisiveness which seems to permeate every aspect of social life these days is not so much an unfortunate byproduct of cultural change as a covert piece of policy to force it.

When you think about it, the divisive nature of Culture Wars has shifted the polarity of acceptability from one end of the world to the other. It used to be simple to justifiably accuse one easily identifiable sector of society as tending toward fascistic thinking or behaviour, but when  left wing-hotbeds such as university student unions send death-threats to individuals whose only crime is to express the belief that having a sex change does not automatically give you the same rights and insights as a person who was born to be a woman, whether or not she is happy in her body. 

You may, as a white person, deeply empathise with black and brown people, but you have not arrived at the end of a long line of ancestors and  found yourself born into a culture that obliterated your family history 400 years ago and still regards you and your children as some sort of outsiders at the same time as accusing you of not wanting to fully integrate. They still have not yet even apologised for the Windrush scandal, let alone given out compensation. to anyone who they can still be traced in the country they were forcibly sent to. 

There is a woman who has written a book (don't know her name) which advocates a way of discussing this stuff without starting wars. From her brief description of it, I think she suggests asking yourself if you are really giving the evidence against your argument enough scrutiny, or if you are simply amassing bits of evidence which seems to support your way of thinking, whether it is of good quality or not.

She cited a good example: A man had written or expressed something which many people disagreed with and attacked him for. Instead of staying in the same place and saying 'I am right and you are wrong', he selected some of the stronger arguments against him and pointed out their various merits. He published the contra arguments and said that they were the best and strongest - but he still stood by what he originally said.

That is a good way of counteracting the divide and rule tactics which governments all over the world have employed simply to stay in power.

15 comments:

  1. Everywhere arounds us: infrastructure, institutions, processes, we still see the proceeds of colonialism. It generated millions of pounds in value for every single person in this country. Should we give it back? Other countries, China especially, are now taking it from us (and them) in a different way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has all moved on to the extent that it would be ridiculous and ruinous for everyone if we were to try and make up 100% for the actions of our forebears. As far as China goes, it is stupidly complex. We have to deal with them no matter what the regime gets up to. I have bought so much Chinese stuff and stuff with components made in China that most of it would stop working if I sent it back in a huff. It all went tits up when China embraced capitalism without renouncing traditional rule of collective government.

      Delete
  2. Interesting food for thought Tom. All my teaching life I rose through the ranks in Comprehensive School where the predominant colours were brown and blco - from the West Indies, from the Punjab - and then white pupils from a very working class area of the town. I don't remember any racial tension, things always seemed to jog along happily in the main. Have things bubbled up since then (I retired in 1984 or was I blind to it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is very similar to Palestine before the creation of Israel. Jews, Arabs and Gentiles got along just fine with each other for the sake of a peaceful life.

      Delete
  3. Sorry - in the second line the word should read black - gremlins got in.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It will be like a new religion and one day all those who erase history and embrace the revolution of the divided will be rewarded like the Roman Empire and Christianity and it will spread for 1000s of years until another division comes and a new revolution.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you may have to explain that a little further for people like me.

      Delete
  5. Divide and conquer tactics have been around for a long time. At the end of the day, as individuals, we have a choice not to allow this. Follow the masses or hold your ground.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I listened to that on the radio as well, think about the opposing argument. It definitely quietens your thoughts down but at the same time the battle gets bigger. "How dare you do that" is definitely my modus operandi though.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Our capacity for rational, disinterested, analysis is very limited indeed. Politics is now effectively a mix if PR and lobbying - and the culture wars a sad reflection on both our lack of tolerance and our difficulty in facing down those with overly strident and partisan views.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We can’t can’t hear for the shouting most of the time.

      Delete
  8. I like your blog,I sincerely hope that your blog a rapid increase in
    traffic density,which help promote your blog and we hope that your blog is being updated.
    Live Football_បាល់ផ្សាយបន្តផ្ទាល់
    បាល់ផ្សាយបន្តផ្ទាល់_Live Football

    ReplyDelete
  9. Buy cheap nembutal pentobarbital pills, liquid, powder, SECONAL FOR SALE ONLINE, SECONAL and more online.
    Buy nembutal online, order nembutal online, purchase cheap nembutal online.

    Contact us at: arcmeds4@gmail.com

    Are you terminally sick , weak , depressed and want to give up your life from the pain of the world? Have you been searching for a reliable and efficient means to get peaceful death without loosing your money ? Have you ever heard about Nembutal Pentobarbital Sodium Solution Peaceful exit medication? We are here to provide you with a peaceful and reliable solution.

    If you are looking to Buy Nembutal Online, then you are at the right place to make your purchase. Look no further, contact us and purchase Nembutal Online at a very affordable price. We have over 9 years of experience supplying nembutal to United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia with 99.9% successful delivery.

    We are determined in giving real hope and everlasting rest to the terminally ill. We sell Nembutal Powder, Oral Nembutal Liquid and Nembutal Pills. Just providing your age and your weight, we will be able to provide you accurate information about Price, shipping, and payment.

    Note that, we do 100% discrete and express shipping of Nembutal world wide and have a refund/return policy to ensure maximum satisfaction of our clients. If we do not treat you well, tell us and if we treat you good tell the world.
    We are available 24/7 to answer all your question regarding HOW TO BUY NEMBUTAL ONLINE, WHERE TO BUY NEMBUTAL, BEST TYPE OF NEMBUTAL TO BUY etc. Simply send us an email and one of our customer service consultants will get back to you on time.

    * Nembutal suicide dose,

    * How to obtain Seconal,

    * How to buy nembutal Online,

    * Purchase nembutal Online,

    * Nembutal by mail order,

    * How to obtain pentobarbital,

    * Best drugs for suicide overdose,
    * seconal nembutal,

    * nembutal no prescription,

    * nembutal pentobarbital sodium,

    * nembutal pills online,

    * nembutal suppliers,

    We are a legitimate supplier for Nembutal. End the suffering, End the pain and End your sorrow by purchasing Nembutal online from the best nembutal suppliers. 100% Fast, Reliable, Trustworthy, the product being of high quality, everywhere accessible, extremely pure, Nembutal powder as well as liquid and pills ,the best decision to make. Dying with peacefulness, Dying with dignity, Peaceful euthanasia, Peaceful mind. Consumption and order to be placed according to the need.

    Contact us at: arcmeds4@gmail.com

    best drugs for suicide overdose, buy nembutal pentobarbital sodium online, can you purchase nembutal online, how much nembutal is fatal, how to acquire nembutal, how to buy nembutal online, how to get sodium pentobarbital, how to obtain pentobarbital, how to obtain seconal, nembutal by mail order, nembutal for sale, nembutal online, nembutal online pharmacy, order nembutal online, nembutal pentobarbital for sale, nembutal pills for sale, nembutal powder for sale online, nembutal price, nembutal suicide dose, obtaining nembutal online, pentobarbital nembutal sale, purchase nembutal online, sodium pentobarbital, sodium pentobarbital euthanasia, sodium pentobarbital for sale, sodium pentobarbital purchase, sodium pentobarbital suicide, sodium pentobarbital suppliers, where can i purchase nembutal, where to buy sodium pentobarbital, where to buy nembutal online, where to get pentobarbital.

    ReplyDelete