Why Republicans Refuse Truth

[JFN1]

It's no great mystery.

Democrats and liberals often express bafflement at the stubborn and self-inflicted ignorance commonly demonstrated by those who support Republicans and the right-wing agenda at work in our nation. Truly, in this age of instant communications and access to what nearly represents the sum total of human knowledge, how can it be that there are Americans who refuse this information, who reject the facts, who cling to their beliefs, even in the face of certain knowledge? Well, as we all have discovered, there are indeed such individuals, who are more comfortable on a bed of lies than the harsh reality the truth represents.

But it really is no mystery as to why these people cannot grow beyond their tightly held beliefs.

Think about what it means to be an American, as we see ourselves through the eyes of the rest of the world.

Natural disaster? Political strife? Military needs? Medical developments? Entertainment? Technological breakthroughs? Social innovations? The Moral High Ground? Education? Health care? Transportation? Trade? A "better mousetrap?" Music? Global trends?

America is almost always #1 in the world, in all of these things...at least as we see them. And this confidence in WHO WE ARE is not an accident, it is not simple arrogance, and it is not undeserved. America busted it's collective ass for two centuries to be the last world power standing, and consequently, our national identity, as well as our personal identities, are deeply invested in all of this.

Republicans and neocons and right-wing whackos alike, all share this identity with the rest of us. What makes us different, however, is that liberals can see that America is not actually #1 in everything in the world, and that standing has been steadily declining since Bush started his bull-in-the-china-shop routine in Washington six long, long years ago. Republicans and right-wingers CANNOT SEE THIS, CANNOT ACCEPT THIS, REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT.

IF it is true that America is no longer #1, it is a mortal blow to their personal identity. They cannot handle even the thought that, if it turns out Bush has committed war crimes, killed tens of thousands of innocent people merely to enrich himself and his buddies, has tortured and killed prisoners, has spied on Americans, and all of these other things, it means THEY helped to make it happen, THEY own a piece of our national responsibility, that THEY allowed this to happen, and thus America is no longer the paragon of morality and strength their personal identities depend upon. It is an untenable position for such egos, and thus one they cannot believe, let alone embrace.

There is a lesson here, for Democrats. For Republicans who cannot envision an America that does bad things in the world, there is no hope of winning them over. No, the realignment of one's worldview to more closely resemble reality is a deeply personal thing, influenced by a variety of things, affecting each of us differently. I do not suggest that Democrats stop trying to reach these folks. What I do suggest is that the LANGUAGE Democrats are using to try to reach these people CANNOT reach them. In other words, stop trying to talk to them in a way they will accept, in "their own words," as it were. Stick to the facts, and stop trying to sell yourself to them through their virtues, their religions, or their values. Democrats cannot reach these people in this way, since these Republicans are essentially struggling against their own self-identities. Instead, just stick to the facts.

There is no "gotcha" moment that will win die-hard Republicans over. it will be a lot of little things, and will require a means by which they can save face. Republicans are bruised and bloodied by their own words, their own hubris, their own stubbornness. Shoving their errors in their faces will not win them over, any more than the facts will. Time may do the job; and the job may be undoable, for the majority of these folks.

So stop feeding them politically. And remember how YOU feel when you think about America not being #1 anymore...

[PoiBoy]

1. Good points..

excellent post.. thank you..!

:hi:

[JFN1]

3. Thanks!

:)

[warrior1]

2. My repub sister

who is also gay, as is her partner said it like this.

"She doesn't like change."