There's an adage in public relations and communications that helps to define the audience one should appeal to most.
A small portion of the people are already on your side. They don't need to be convinced. Remind them of your platform, thank them for their support, and your work is done.
Another small portion of the people will never listen to you. It doesn't matter if you appeal to logic, or facts, or feelings. They will never be on your side. They will hear you say the sky is blue and will argue that it's red just to spite you. State your case and move on.
The remainder, and majority, are the people who are various degrees of undecided. Those people are your audience. Those people are who you have to convince.
Unfortunately, it seems this undecided majority is not actually undecided. They are outright apathetic. They only take an active stance if it affects them personally. Sometimes not even then.
That is the level of broken this country is. We are caught between the actively cruel (the rock) and the passively apathetic (the hard place).
Respectfully, I don't think that larger group is apathetic. Pollsters are doing a bit better these days at getting to people that aren't just the older "home phone" users. They are not in the majority, clearly. But, the other side is largely together in policy and ideals, and rabid fans. We have major problems when it comes to understanding the drive that caused this in the first place. There is a large group on this side that is comfortable with some things on the right, and some things on the left. The other part of that group doesn't feel like anything will change if we don't make bold strides in condemning aggression, access for all in healthcare, housing, and food. It is as much confused by traditional political identities, because many seem to be sticking with their team when if you ask them, they have pretty clear needs and often it doesn't align with what is happening. Most of the time, $$$$ drives representation. When so many don't have $$$$ to just exist, it's hard to ask them to go above and beyond day to day necessities and get involved. Maybe it should be considered that those people that one might call "apathetic", are actually struggling on multiple levels and are the ones needing help. I feel like the best we could do right now is find ways of helping others, sending $$ to organizations that have networks to get the help out there. Send $$ to politicians that can support the cause. But realistically, helping people will do more to infuse support and action, than anything else. I also feel like what drove many of us to leave organized Christianity, should spend more time reminding people of what Jesus was all about. I hear people say they are looking for churches, but don't have a place. There are people out there that can call those people together.
I have said this before, but I think it bears repeating.
Many of us are familiar with the Exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt to their Promises Land—either from the Bible, or from movies such as “The Ten Commandments.” The movie plot usually ends with the exodus itself, but the Bible goes on to talk about what happened in the Sinai desert. Much of what happened is complaining, moaning, and bitching by the people about how nasty it was in the desert, and how high the price of eggs was there. At one point, The Lord got really angry because of this attitude; he was ready to wipe them out and go find another Chosen People, and Moses had to talk him out of that.
What he did do was tell the Hebrews that they would have to wander in the desert for forty years, until all the people who had grown up as slaves and couldn’t cope with the journey were dead; only then were they to go ahead and enter the Promised Land.
I believe that America will not be truly healthy again until all those who have drunk the poisoned Kool-Aid of MAGA have died out, and a new generation of Americans who have not been intoxicated by all the MAGA hatreds, crimes, and bigotries will have arisen. And even then, there will remain pockets of MAGAism that will have to be dealt with. Some diseases are incurable, and MAGA is one of them.
While I agree with you, we must keep in mind that the MAGA types will pass their hatreds on to their children. To counteract that, we must have better civic education.
I think you’re right about the children, and I don’t have a glib answer. I’m sure the Hebrews didn’t stop moaning and whining when they got to the Promised Land; the Bible suggests that this sort of behaviour went on to the Fall of Jerusalem, at least. These are likely to be the “pockets of MAGAism” that I mentioned above. One must hope that in the absence of Trump himself and in a society slowly recovering its sense of decency and respect for the Rule of Law these pockets (which, of course, have always existed in our body politic) won’t be able to sway the electorate the way Trump and MAGA have done in our time. But things may not turn out for good, even with the demise of Original MAGA. No nation lives forever, and the US is not immune from the changing patterns of history. We can only hope….
Sadly, I agree. I do pray for this nation to return to embodying a more loving attitude. We were far from perfect, however, can one envision this Administration enacting PEPFAR for AIDS? Hardly.
I have read much of this thread, and will begin by confessing to not being a Christian, I did attemptreading a Bible. But so many versions…
After reading a few comments on this thread by followers of Jesus, who I do believe to have had values and a loving heart , I sense a continuous circling of these events. As if we're caught in a loop with no way out. Rather disconcerting thought really. I'll be sitting with this one a while. Thank youfor the food for thought.
You are right, Cynthia, there is no way out of this. To achieve peace in this nation and in the world, we must put into action a phrase from the Gospel according to John: Love one another, as I have loved you. With all the hurt feelings and distrust amongst nations, it will take generations to bring make that admonition a reality.
Thank you for your response to my original comment. Just don’t lose hope that there is a God, that he loves us and his broken creation, and has been working for ages to put everything right again, even if we in this generation won’t live to see it.
Except a good number of them believe that he's the anti-christ. And they're content with that, because it means that their god is coming soon to take his believers back to heaven with him. (Yes, I've actually had several rural Texans say this to me in conversations.)
Yes we will outnumber, outlast, outlove, outvote and outsmart them…
Have given up changing, listening or understanding any of them. When told by a MAGA family member that “facts and truths are relative”… well stick a fork in that because it’s well overdone…
For quite some time now, I have been a great fan of Mel Robbins and read her books esp. the most recent one. You cannot change people and you just have to "let them"-think whatever they want-be whoever they want-act how they want (as long as they do not do anything deemed criminal to you or your loved ones). Why? It is a losing battle; a total waste of time. I live in a world where I see Trump/Vance posters in my neighbors windows every day-even though the election is over. If I see one wearing a MAGA hat-I just secretly bite my tongue and go on my merry way. I might decide to vomit into the toilet when I arrive home but that has not happened yet. The best advice I believe to follow is simply to live our lives in the best way we can and be the change we want to see in ourselves and how we contribute in a meaningful way to a society that sadly is going south. We need to be selfish and it is okay. It is kind of a "nice selfishness" where you do for yourself and your family, friends and those who can use your help. Those hateful people-let them be who they are and maybe one day, they will "choose the right"-an expression that I heard from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because that is what Jesus always did-he choose and did the right thing all the time.
Jesus did interact with the hardhearted... those we call MAGA. He challenged them, however, he was always respectful. I ignore the MAGA types, as I cannot be respectful.
I’ve come to realize how naive I am. I always thought there were only 5% of people who were this vile. We can’t change them, they’re living their best life. So sad…
I was saddened to see the community college I teach at gave in to pressure and renamed our DEI department some senseless vanilla title. Now I await to see if our campus club board gets pruned of Pride club, environmental club and all foreign student clubs to keep peace. The richness of our diversity and openness to all is what makes the experience here so special. And helps me teach acceptance, kindness and civic engagement. Yes, the apathy and willful ignorance is running rampant!
The sad truth for sure. I think we keep trying to believe folks will wake up, that they will have a line drawn that cannot be ignored, that they will be willing to read or listen to facts, and that they will reignite their humanity and empathy towards others.
I’m not a Christian and was never raised as one. Yet I’m constantly appalled by those that shove the word at us while failing miserably to live by Jesus’ teachings. Although I’ll never believe in his being divine, like with the Buddha I’ll regard his compassionate teachings valuable to us as a people, as a society. Isn’t it funny that though not a Christian, I feel much more christian than them.
Thank you for confirming what I’ve been feeling for months.
There is no reasoning with cultists, and that is truly what they are
There's an adage in public relations and communications that helps to define the audience one should appeal to most.
A small portion of the people are already on your side. They don't need to be convinced. Remind them of your platform, thank them for their support, and your work is done.
Another small portion of the people will never listen to you. It doesn't matter if you appeal to logic, or facts, or feelings. They will never be on your side. They will hear you say the sky is blue and will argue that it's red just to spite you. State your case and move on.
The remainder, and majority, are the people who are various degrees of undecided. Those people are your audience. Those people are who you have to convince.
Unfortunately, it seems this undecided majority is not actually undecided. They are outright apathetic. They only take an active stance if it affects them personally. Sometimes not even then.
That is the level of broken this country is. We are caught between the actively cruel (the rock) and the passively apathetic (the hard place).
So well said! Thank you and I agree with everything you wrote!
Respectfully, I don't think that larger group is apathetic. Pollsters are doing a bit better these days at getting to people that aren't just the older "home phone" users. They are not in the majority, clearly. But, the other side is largely together in policy and ideals, and rabid fans. We have major problems when it comes to understanding the drive that caused this in the first place. There is a large group on this side that is comfortable with some things on the right, and some things on the left. The other part of that group doesn't feel like anything will change if we don't make bold strides in condemning aggression, access for all in healthcare, housing, and food. It is as much confused by traditional political identities, because many seem to be sticking with their team when if you ask them, they have pretty clear needs and often it doesn't align with what is happening. Most of the time, $$$$ drives representation. When so many don't have $$$$ to just exist, it's hard to ask them to go above and beyond day to day necessities and get involved. Maybe it should be considered that those people that one might call "apathetic", are actually struggling on multiple levels and are the ones needing help. I feel like the best we could do right now is find ways of helping others, sending $$ to organizations that have networks to get the help out there. Send $$ to politicians that can support the cause. But realistically, helping people will do more to infuse support and action, than anything else. I also feel like what drove many of us to leave organized Christianity, should spend more time reminding people of what Jesus was all about. I hear people say they are looking for churches, but don't have a place. There are people out there that can call those people together.
Thank you Terra M. You expressed exactly how I am feeling. It is so depressing to watch folks pick up a hammer and bang on their own big toe.
I have said this before, but I think it bears repeating.
Many of us are familiar with the Exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt to their Promises Land—either from the Bible, or from movies such as “The Ten Commandments.” The movie plot usually ends with the exodus itself, but the Bible goes on to talk about what happened in the Sinai desert. Much of what happened is complaining, moaning, and bitching by the people about how nasty it was in the desert, and how high the price of eggs was there. At one point, The Lord got really angry because of this attitude; he was ready to wipe them out and go find another Chosen People, and Moses had to talk him out of that.
What he did do was tell the Hebrews that they would have to wander in the desert for forty years, until all the people who had grown up as slaves and couldn’t cope with the journey were dead; only then were they to go ahead and enter the Promised Land.
I believe that America will not be truly healthy again until all those who have drunk the poisoned Kool-Aid of MAGA have died out, and a new generation of Americans who have not been intoxicated by all the MAGA hatreds, crimes, and bigotries will have arisen. And even then, there will remain pockets of MAGAism that will have to be dealt with. Some diseases are incurable, and MAGA is one of them.
While I agree with you, we must keep in mind that the MAGA types will pass their hatreds on to their children. To counteract that, we must have better civic education.
I think you’re right about the children, and I don’t have a glib answer. I’m sure the Hebrews didn’t stop moaning and whining when they got to the Promised Land; the Bible suggests that this sort of behaviour went on to the Fall of Jerusalem, at least. These are likely to be the “pockets of MAGAism” that I mentioned above. One must hope that in the absence of Trump himself and in a society slowly recovering its sense of decency and respect for the Rule of Law these pockets (which, of course, have always existed in our body politic) won’t be able to sway the electorate the way Trump and MAGA have done in our time. But things may not turn out for good, even with the demise of Original MAGA. No nation lives forever, and the US is not immune from the changing patterns of history. We can only hope….
Sadly, I agree. I do pray for this nation to return to embodying a more loving attitude. We were far from perfect, however, can one envision this Administration enacting PEPFAR for AIDS? Hardly.
I have read much of this thread, and will begin by confessing to not being a Christian, I did attemptreading a Bible. But so many versions…
After reading a few comments on this thread by followers of Jesus, who I do believe to have had values and a loving heart , I sense a continuous circling of these events. As if we're caught in a loop with no way out. Rather disconcerting thought really. I'll be sitting with this one a while. Thank youfor the food for thought.
You are right, Cynthia, there is no way out of this. To achieve peace in this nation and in the world, we must put into action a phrase from the Gospel according to John: Love one another, as I have loved you. With all the hurt feelings and distrust amongst nations, it will take generations to bring make that admonition a reality.
Thank you for your response to my original comment. Just don’t lose hope that there is a God, that he loves us and his broken creation, and has been working for ages to put everything right again, even if we in this generation won’t live to see it.
Because they believe DJT was sent by God for His purpose, they will never abandon him. To do so would be denouncing their faith.
Except a good number of them believe that he's the anti-christ. And they're content with that, because it means that their god is coming soon to take his believers back to heaven with him. (Yes, I've actually had several rural Texans say this to me in conversations.)
Yes we will outnumber, outlast, outlove, outvote and outsmart them…
Have given up changing, listening or understanding any of them. When told by a MAGA family member that “facts and truths are relative”… well stick a fork in that because it’s well overdone…
Amen! God help us.
You give us strength, John! Thank you.
I had no idea there were so many depraved people in our society-it’s sad and scary. But yes we can outnumber them.
The horse is dead. Bury it before it stinks up the world further
For quite some time now, I have been a great fan of Mel Robbins and read her books esp. the most recent one. You cannot change people and you just have to "let them"-think whatever they want-be whoever they want-act how they want (as long as they do not do anything deemed criminal to you or your loved ones). Why? It is a losing battle; a total waste of time. I live in a world where I see Trump/Vance posters in my neighbors windows every day-even though the election is over. If I see one wearing a MAGA hat-I just secretly bite my tongue and go on my merry way. I might decide to vomit into the toilet when I arrive home but that has not happened yet. The best advice I believe to follow is simply to live our lives in the best way we can and be the change we want to see in ourselves and how we contribute in a meaningful way to a society that sadly is going south. We need to be selfish and it is okay. It is kind of a "nice selfishness" where you do for yourself and your family, friends and those who can use your help. Those hateful people-let them be who they are and maybe one day, they will "choose the right"-an expression that I heard from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because that is what Jesus always did-he choose and did the right thing all the time.
Jesus did interact with the hardhearted... those we call MAGA. He challenged them, however, he was always respectful. I ignore the MAGA types, as I cannot be respectful.
This is true. We are legion!
Add to Outnumber, Outlast, Outlove, Outvote, Outsmart and ORGANIZE! There is a time to every season….
Thank you.
I’ve come to realize how naive I am. I always thought there were only 5% of people who were this vile. We can’t change them, they’re living their best life. So sad…
I was saddened to see the community college I teach at gave in to pressure and renamed our DEI department some senseless vanilla title. Now I await to see if our campus club board gets pruned of Pride club, environmental club and all foreign student clubs to keep peace. The richness of our diversity and openness to all is what makes the experience here so special. And helps me teach acceptance, kindness and civic engagement. Yes, the apathy and willful ignorance is running rampant!
The sad truth for sure. I think we keep trying to believe folks will wake up, that they will have a line drawn that cannot be ignored, that they will be willing to read or listen to facts, and that they will reignite their humanity and empathy towards others.
I’m not a Christian and was never raised as one. Yet I’m constantly appalled by those that shove the word at us while failing miserably to live by Jesus’ teachings. Although I’ll never believe in his being divine, like with the Buddha I’ll regard his compassionate teachings valuable to us as a people, as a society. Isn’t it funny that though not a Christian, I feel much more christian than them.