That was a terrific piece and I loved the description of antifa (even spellcheck doesn’t recognize antifa) as a moving boogeyman, a reflection of society’s anxieties. So good.
Your article points out one sad fact about the American people who don't know they are being gaslighted. They do not have any critical thinking skills. I blame this on schools teaching to the test. I was fortunate to have had teachers who would throw out a rhetorical question or comment and ask us what we thought about it. My best memories are all of us being "engaged" in lively discussions when the teacher asked the simple question, "why".
The quote below describes how DH and I, once liberal "helpers' in our MAGA family became "they".
"The quiet faith that if you explain yourself clearly enough, or support him loyally enough, he’ll suddenly discover a capacity for empathy he has never once demonstrated in public. It’s the political equivalent of writing a heartfelt letter to a brick wall and waiting for it to write back."
Thank you for writing this. I saw Bennie Thompson's exchange and I thought what a subtle quiet yet effective way to expose the absurdity and hollowness of Micheal Glasheen's testimony. It was a master class and I can only hope other colleagues took note of his art of exposing these ridiculous claims.
Great post professor! Wait 'til DHS starts monitoring our social media and other private communications to 'ferret-out' the 'antifa' individuals using drones and similar technologies. Thank you as always.
If this is allowed to continue, property confiscation and reeducation camp comes next to select white folk, the rest will be consigned to hard labor, deportation or incarceration for their thought crimes.
Imaginary villains or treats that live in our imaginations. Sort of reminds me how as kids we couldn't stick our leg over the bedside because the of ghost or monster under the bed would grab it. And of course, the only thing under the bed were at best the dangerous dust balls. Thank you for lifting up Benny Thomson and his question to Glasheen. The question Thomson asked has been a long time coming concerning Antifa: where based? who leads? where its central location? Unfortunately, the word Antia is the dust ball and has become the imaginary fear dwelling in people's minds--like the ghostly dust ball under the bed. It is, as you so well pointed out, laughable but dangerous.
Sorry that you didn't get the needed break with cartoons or whatever, but this article as serious as it is, brought me hope and a pleasant surprise in a time where our so-called protectors fill our world with imaginary fear. So, thank you Kristoffer. Take care.
Thank you for this excellent essay. I had never heard the term "Moral Panic Theory" and I always appreciate learning something new at my advanced age. Regarding the suggestion "if you have a MAGA person in your life, this is the paragraph they need to sit with," yes, that paragraph distills one of the core problems when trying to have a conversation with someone in the MAGA cult. I admit to have given up trying to communicate ideas like this to true Trump believers. Maybe I shouldn't.
I am clinging to the hope that the Michael Glasheens in the system will reach a limit to how much they are willing to play the game. Being so complicit in the degradation of their own careers and organizations cannot feel good. You have hit at the core. And of course, God bless Bennie Thompson!
G-d bless Congressman Thompson for his professionality. If only just one member of Congress on the other side of the aisle still had such credentials.
When I see another example of members of the Trump administration gaslighting the Congress, and hence the public, I find myself saying, "what's new?". I honestly fear that if one spoke the truth on any topic, just once, they would burst into flames.
Let me give you my example of a federal organization pushing bald arse lies. The Department of Homeland Security's ICE recruitment commercial. It starts out with pictures of 9-11. Then it starts projecting pictures of the terrorists who committed this dastardly crime. OK so far. But then it says that the terrorists were here illegally. FALSE. All 19 were here through visas. A short handful had overstayed their visas, and hence were illegal AT THAT POINT. The commercial goes on to say that ICE has gotten rid of 'the worst of the worst'. Ahem. Let us be honest. The worst of the worst are 'clever' enough to avoid being caught in many cases. But 3 year old toddlers, many of whom were born in the United States (see 14th Amendment, Birthright Citizenship), who ICE and the Trump Justice Department requires to defend themselves in deportation court, they are easy prey for ICE and the DOJ. The entire commercial is a lie. The administration has turned ICE into an organization who ignores the law, hides behind masks and hidden badges, and fails to apply the rights the law gives ALL people in America, citizens, visitors, and those without legal credentials to be here. I am sure that part of the hiring process, beyond making sure that the candidate has the 'right' political credentials, is to determine if a person has anti-social, or sadistic, or bigoted tendencies and move them to the front of the line; and those who would follow the law and treat all with dignity are given a 'thank you for your time, but NO thank you.'
My college years were 1967-1971. I would have loved to have had classes and discussions with a professor like you who can so succinctly break down the state of our present politics and lived experience. I also saw Congressman Thompson interview and quietly humiliate Mr. Glasheen, and I thought the essence and delivery of Bennie’s last comment was delicious.
That was a terrific piece and I loved the description of antifa (even spellcheck doesn’t recognize antifa) as a moving boogeyman, a reflection of society’s anxieties. So good.
Your article points out one sad fact about the American people who don't know they are being gaslighted. They do not have any critical thinking skills. I blame this on schools teaching to the test. I was fortunate to have had teachers who would throw out a rhetorical question or comment and ask us what we thought about it. My best memories are all of us being "engaged" in lively discussions when the teacher asked the simple question, "why".
Exactly.
The quote below describes how DH and I, once liberal "helpers' in our MAGA family became "they".
"The quiet faith that if you explain yourself clearly enough, or support him loyally enough, he’ll suddenly discover a capacity for empathy he has never once demonstrated in public. It’s the political equivalent of writing a heartfelt letter to a brick wall and waiting for it to write back."
Thank you for elegant logic of this post. It hits hard. Carry on.
Thank you for writing this. I saw Bennie Thompson's exchange and I thought what a subtle quiet yet effective way to expose the absurdity and hollowness of Micheal Glasheen's testimony. It was a master class and I can only hope other colleagues took note of his art of exposing these ridiculous claims.
Great post professor! Wait 'til DHS starts monitoring our social media and other private communications to 'ferret-out' the 'antifa' individuals using drones and similar technologies. Thank you as always.
If this is allowed to continue, property confiscation and reeducation camp comes next to select white folk, the rest will be consigned to hard labor, deportation or incarceration for their thought crimes.
Imaginary villains or treats that live in our imaginations. Sort of reminds me how as kids we couldn't stick our leg over the bedside because the of ghost or monster under the bed would grab it. And of course, the only thing under the bed were at best the dangerous dust balls. Thank you for lifting up Benny Thomson and his question to Glasheen. The question Thomson asked has been a long time coming concerning Antifa: where based? who leads? where its central location? Unfortunately, the word Antia is the dust ball and has become the imaginary fear dwelling in people's minds--like the ghostly dust ball under the bed. It is, as you so well pointed out, laughable but dangerous.
Sorry that you didn't get the needed break with cartoons or whatever, but this article as serious as it is, brought me hope and a pleasant surprise in a time where our so-called protectors fill our world with imaginary fear. So, thank you Kristoffer. Take care.
Thank you for this excellent essay. I had never heard the term "Moral Panic Theory" and I always appreciate learning something new at my advanced age. Regarding the suggestion "if you have a MAGA person in your life, this is the paragraph they need to sit with," yes, that paragraph distills one of the core problems when trying to have a conversation with someone in the MAGA cult. I admit to have given up trying to communicate ideas like this to true Trump believers. Maybe I shouldn't.
I am clinging to the hope that the Michael Glasheens in the system will reach a limit to how much they are willing to play the game. Being so complicit in the degradation of their own careers and organizations cannot feel good. You have hit at the core. And of course, God bless Bennie Thompson!
G-d bless Congressman Thompson for his professionality. If only just one member of Congress on the other side of the aisle still had such credentials.
When I see another example of members of the Trump administration gaslighting the Congress, and hence the public, I find myself saying, "what's new?". I honestly fear that if one spoke the truth on any topic, just once, they would burst into flames.
Let me give you my example of a federal organization pushing bald arse lies. The Department of Homeland Security's ICE recruitment commercial. It starts out with pictures of 9-11. Then it starts projecting pictures of the terrorists who committed this dastardly crime. OK so far. But then it says that the terrorists were here illegally. FALSE. All 19 were here through visas. A short handful had overstayed their visas, and hence were illegal AT THAT POINT. The commercial goes on to say that ICE has gotten rid of 'the worst of the worst'. Ahem. Let us be honest. The worst of the worst are 'clever' enough to avoid being caught in many cases. But 3 year old toddlers, many of whom were born in the United States (see 14th Amendment, Birthright Citizenship), who ICE and the Trump Justice Department requires to defend themselves in deportation court, they are easy prey for ICE and the DOJ. The entire commercial is a lie. The administration has turned ICE into an organization who ignores the law, hides behind masks and hidden badges, and fails to apply the rights the law gives ALL people in America, citizens, visitors, and those without legal credentials to be here. I am sure that part of the hiring process, beyond making sure that the candidate has the 'right' political credentials, is to determine if a person has anti-social, or sadistic, or bigoted tendencies and move them to the front of the line; and those who would follow the law and treat all with dignity are given a 'thank you for your time, but NO thank you.'
My college years were 1967-1971. I would have loved to have had classes and discussions with a professor like you who can so succinctly break down the state of our present politics and lived experience. I also saw Congressman Thompson interview and quietly humiliate Mr. Glasheen, and I thought the essence and delivery of Bennie’s last comment was delicious.