Why Are RW's Loudly Crazy and Many Progressives Quietly Sensible? And...

[TomCADem]

...is this the secret to the success of right wing advocates? For example, watch a city council or school board and who tends to show up? Right wingers who spout the craziest crap they have heard on Fox, OANN, etc., whether it be conspiracy theories about the election, anti-vax theories or racist screeds about critical race theory. I don't see people rushing the mike to say stuff like the world is round, climate change is real, women should be able to make their own reproductive decisions.

For example, in San Francisco of all places, here are anti-vaxxers loudly protesting at a Democratic congressman's townhall:

Perhaps the reason is some Christian blend of evangelism and entitlement where right wingers not only feel that their racist, right wing world view is right, but they feel entitled and obligated to loudly spread their views even in very blue areas.

In contrast, when the idea of trying to convince right wingers is raised on this board, many folks will say that it is pointless. Maybe this is why you do not have progressives wading into public forums and confronting right wingers to try to spread their views. Instead, we stay on safe places like this board or participate in marcher where we can focus on convincing people who already agree with us. Indeed, rather than hold Republican accountable, we often blame Democrats for not doing enough to enact an agenda.

Staying in a safe space and preaching to people who already agree with you is easy. Dismissing crazy right wingers who show up in public meetings to preach the latest Tucker Carlson talking points is so much more comfortable then appearing in a hostile public forum where many people disagree with you to speak truth to power. We would rather outsource this or just complain that someone else like the Democratic establishment should do our grassroots work for us. If we are really worked up, perhaps we will go on a once in a year march with thousands of people who already agree with us. However, what this will not do is change minds.

If progressives want to fight back, they need to stop being quietly sensible in the face of right wing activists who are loudly crazy. We need to get out of our safe space and take every opportunity to speak the truth whether it be your local school board or city council.

[Dr. Shepper]

1. This resonates with me

I want to get out and speak at these types of meetings but:

(1) I have self awareness the loons on the right lack and don’t want to be the center of attention

(2) I don’t want to be targeted by said loons and lose my job and livelihood - which my uni would do if pressured by the ruby red state legislators that hold the purse strings

[TomCADem]

4. Unlike John Lewis, Many Progressives Today Are Reluctant To Confront Racists

Perhaps this is a function of right wing media constantly putting right wingers in a state of anxiety, but I think many progressives share the perspective of not wanting to be targeted or retaliated against. In contrast, with folks like Tucker Carlson convincing right wingers that white male dominated culture is under siege and they need to fight back, you have right wingers willing to loudly proclaim their racist and crazy ideas.

Not too long ago, Republicans catered to closet racists with dog whistles and stereotypes, but now right wingers are increasingly assertive about their racism and extremism and are encouraged to confront mainsteam people with their views in order to make them mainstream.

In contrast, on the progressive side, there is a growing reluctance to confront racists. You will see protests in California or New York where people will march with a bunch of like minded folks, but what you don't see is the same ethos of John Lewis and protesters who were willing to go into the heart of racist enclaves to confront and draw attention to the injustice. Don't get me wrong, it was very dangerous and John Lewis was beaten up and arrested many times, but he had the conviction in his beliefs to see this as worth it, and was willing to persevere.

We can't change minds by preaching to people who already agree with us. Progressives forgot this, but right wingers have discovered this in the interim.

[betsuni]

2. Because they don't want to be the nutty enemy the right-wing wants and needs.

[Celerity]

3. this POS Karen needs to be arrested for assault and battery

[Hugin]

6. She got her 15 minutes.

I really think that’s as deep as it goes. That’s also why it is escalating. Way more crazy is required to get RTs on the teevee Twitter machine.

[EnergizedLib]

5. Personality types, maybe?

I have a desire to get more involved now, but I’m more introverted, make small talk and be private/keep to myself as a homebody.

I haven’t been loud and vocal in many, many years. I’ve doing some volunteer stuff behind the scenes.

Maybe that needs to change.

[slater71]

7. Donald Trump.

They could not do it on their own so they live and act through him. He gave them the right to do it.

[Tickle]

8. I thought we were pretty loud

when they outed Roe . We still are loud.

[TomCADem]

9. Speaking to a large crowd of people who agree with you...

…or marching in San Francisco or New York is not really going to move the needle or change minds. While I think it is good to find and support a community of folks who already agree with you, we also need to change minds among people who disagree with us, who only listen to right wing radio.

Heaven knows that the right wing is not shy about marching into local government meetings and school boards to spread their views. Right wingers are no longer just preaching to their choirs.

Progressives need to take a page out of the book of 1960s activists and speak to groups that do not necessarily agree with us.

[Tickle]

10. very nice to read your last line

you have given me hope that maybe we can talk to the other side. Educating someone or a group of people is truly the key to success