People who have their identities wrapped up in their politics tend to fight these kinds of battles harder, that kind of authoritarian imposition of ideological belief via cultural and political means.
My personal beliefs and politics aren't even very wrapped up in my identity. They're just a label for the loose organization of thoughts I have about how the world should work. But if someone doesn't agree, I don't disbelieve them or hate them or think something's wrong with them. If I'm wrong, I acknowledge it. If someone has good information I can use, I don't care if they're a Republican or Democrat.
People who are partisan are suspicious of outside sources of information, blatantly disbelieve anyone assumed to be in the out-group, and are resistant to altering perceptions and opinions given changing circumstances and sets of facts.
I mean, look at this Rittenhouse thing. I had a vague idea about it from the media and figured he was guilty probably. I can't say I lent it much thought. Just happened to be having a slow week at home with work and school, started watching the trial, and . . . this was not at all what I was told. Wrong facts, blatant omissions of fact, misinformation - or no information at all! It didn't matter. And no amount of correction changes it.
Because it's about identity. White Militias vs BLM. Trumpists vs the Left. Where do you stand? And if you don't stand with us, you stand with them.
Or I just, you know, read.
When it's about identity, it's about the Narrative. So wokeness sells a narrative. How do I know? Because no one makes up that many different terms and concepts, and pushes them to replace easily understood common language unless it's to control a Narrative. It happens throughout history. Orwell wrote about it. Don't get me wrong, the Right is very, very good at narratives and using language to sell them. For a long time, I've felt they're much better at it than us.
But I agree with the author. It isn't an education thing. It's an identity thing. If your identity is deeply tied into your politics, you're more susceptible to this stuff. Because challenges to ideas are then perceived as threatening to the personal. If you're not partisan, this stuff doesn't soak in nearly as far.
I think that's why I often feel I'm standing slightly apart, looking in and going, "Ok, we're just getting crazy now. This isn't rational thought anymore. This is coming from a place of id."
But it's all interesting enough, I suppose.
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