Reader, not many are coming out and saying it directly. Even the most altruistic voters can’t place their fingers on it. The only types are sociologists and journalists. There is movement in our society and even around the world of what I dub “cruelty is cool” culture. I can’t forget that bumper sticker we’d all see in the 90’s and 2000’s that stated Mean People Suck! Soon afterward, I remember seeing ones to antagonize that world view stating: Mean People Kick Ass. If you’ve noticed over the past 8 years there has been an uptick in violent ‘street fighting’ culture in our society. UFC and MMA are a billion dollar plus industry. You now have paramilitary groups and ‘street fighting’ fraternities of men growing up like weeds. Tragically, this type of mentality has over taken the current Republican party. A party that had a decent platform at one time. A party that had values. As a matter of fact late Republican Senator, John McCain, considered a bill against ‘ultimate cage fighting, when it first started out here in the U.S. At least 12 states set out to ban it.
An article in the Washington Spectator produced an excellent peace on the connections Donald Trump has with Russian MMA street fighters, with Vladimir Putin being the connecting source. And how those social circles arch into mainstream politics in Russia and slightly less here in America. If street thug culture takes over a large segment of American policy through office holders, then, Moses help us. It’s that type of mentality that manifested itself into the January 6th invasion as one of a segment of strains that were anti-democratic on that day. A strain along with white supremacy, libertarianism and new apostolic reformation ‘end times’ fanaticism. In other words a culture of ‘if you are not of our world view, we’ll just pick a fight with you in any said parking lot if we see fit.’ View You tube channels of public freak outs and fights against decency at school board meetings, against hourly workers in most any public facility are the most popular being purveyed. YouTube channel, A More Perfect Union, produced a segment on the Waffle House franchise and how it welcomed trouble makers into it’s chains as a marketing strategy to set it apart from other establishments. A crass pathetic way to state that this is ‘what we are known for.’ How it refuses to protect workers and law abiding customers during late night shifts when violent drunks, lunatics and losers could start trouble. Tragically, just last week a Waffle House employee was shot to death. The idea of physical violence to get what one wants is becoming routine. The fact that is cheered is more alarming. Of course we also saw this world view played out during the pandemic with the anti mask/ social distancing crowd of twits seeking to antagonize decency.
Undercurrent two has more to do with how we are spending our leisure time. From the beginning of history man has always worshipped other things in that God-given hole that only Christ can fill. Worshiping other people is nothing knew. Emasculating ourselves into a collective tribe for dumb reasons is as natural as breathing. Just observe sports fans on any weekend. I’ve been that sports fan in my younger days. Secular psychologist claim it is natural for people to look upward toward the top of the ‘social totem poll’ to try to emulate those in society who they deem more significant than themselves, to improve their lives. Yet, the Bible sees it differently. I calls it sin. I calls it a form a emasculation that is counter productive to people reaching their true potential in idolizing Christ alone and then proceeding to make themselves the best they can be. Now more than ever and due to how we consume our media, ‘reality celebrities’ and ‘influencers’ are seen as the coaches of our great ‘team.’ We need to tribalize and get behind them and let them ‘coach’ our tribe on to victory against those different than us in appearance, thought or something else. There are political rallies of insanity where people have can buy t-shirts of a 70 something year old nut case wearing semi automatic war apparatus muscled up as if he’s Rambo. Don’t forget the idiotic ‘punisher’ skull stickers we see on pick up trucks all over the country side in any given state. A passive aggressive signal to come and fight me if you are on the ‘opposing side.’ Now more than ever we are in times where people want to join a team and see politics as a means of doing it. It never seems to cross people’s minds that they should find those connections in family, civic organizations and such. In no small irony this is happening all over modern society. Robert Putnam’s book Bowling Alone succinctly addresses the sources of the fracturing of America in regards to social capital. People are as lonely as ever and are seeking harmful therapy to try to fix that problem. They are do it by joining toxic networks online or in person. These toxic networks are manifesting themselves into a world view of ‘us vs. them.’ Ask any sports psychologist and they will tell you there is a chemical bump by being a part of a ‘tribe.’ That’s why this societal issue will not be easy to fix. That’s why people don’t think a damn thing about actual POLICY But, more about RIVALRY. Sadly, this explains why we are at a record breaking pace in regards to campaign fundraising. Do voters donate money so their policy goals can be met. Sure, there are those still out there. Yet, there are just as many who donate so, their ‘way of life’ can win out over their opposition’s worldview just as much. How foolish! These types are the ones always manipulated by politicians and hucksters repeatedly.
Those in local, state and federal office will have to make it a point to destroy these two under currents that are pulling us in the wrong direction. If no one takes this social phenomenon seriously, we will have problems of discord we cannot get ride of at the polls each two to four years.
-J
#NewApostolicReformation
#Cagefighting
#UFC
#MMA
#RobertPutnam
#WaffleHouse
#WashingtonSpectator
#AMorePerfectUnion
