thanks Andrea--very much. UNASB has been valuable for this baby boomer, too. In Iowa, and having been a public official in a state that moved purple to 'almost deep red", I lived the right’s evolution as almost a sociological or neurological hijacking, using "fear of the other" to bypass logic. While the right capitalizes on the speed of instinct and "simple solutions," the left relies on slow, systemic nuance. This creates a biological mismatch: when feeling elevated vulnerability, visceral certainty consistently outpaces complex argument, making the right's acceleration outperforming its actual acceptance. I cringe when think of all the right wing legislation characterizing white men as being victims, using some of the same terms used during my career in civil rights.
Thank you for sharing your valuable perspective and experience here, Ralph. "Sociological or neurological hijacking" is a powerful way to describe it and your observation of its use in your home state is a lesson for all of us.
Great article, and very insightful.Thank you! I felt a very strong connection with what you wrote, and hope others also look through the lens of "here to divide OR here to unite." And appreciate the reference to Haidt's work too.
thanks Andrea--very much. UNASB has been valuable for this baby boomer, too. In Iowa, and having been a public official in a state that moved purple to 'almost deep red", I lived the right’s evolution as almost a sociological or neurological hijacking, using "fear of the other" to bypass logic. While the right capitalizes on the speed of instinct and "simple solutions," the left relies on slow, systemic nuance. This creates a biological mismatch: when feeling elevated vulnerability, visceral certainty consistently outpaces complex argument, making the right's acceleration outperforming its actual acceptance. I cringe when think of all the right wing legislation characterizing white men as being victims, using some of the same terms used during my career in civil rights.
Thank you for sharing your valuable perspective and experience here, Ralph. "Sociological or neurological hijacking" is a powerful way to describe it and your observation of its use in your home state is a lesson for all of us.
Great article, and very insightful.Thank you! I felt a very strong connection with what you wrote, and hope others also look through the lens of "here to divide OR here to unite." And appreciate the reference to Haidt's work too.
I'm so glad it resonated for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!