“A Bigger Danger – A Warning To Conservatives”

by George Graham

 

We all know about the anger and division in the United States today. But there is a place too far where a terrible danger lurks. Recently a group of Progressives were discussing “The Lion King” on Twitter. The Progressives said President Trump is analogous to Scar, the evil lion, and his supporters are analogous to the hyenas, Scar’s supporters. Not very flattering to Conservatives, but what makes this slight dangerous?

Before and during World War II, the German population was exposed to propaganda vilifying the Jews as evil and subhuman. Propaganda is designed to appeal to our emotions, not our thoughtful faculties. The Nazi films and cartoons did not say, “We want to kill Jews. Let’s discuss it.” Many people would have taken the Jewish side defeating the propagandists’ purpose; their purpose was to develop support for, or instill indifference to, the abuse of a target group, in this case the Jews. The Nazi propaganda encouraged Germans to feel the Jews were evil and disgustingly subhuman by exposing the German population to increasingly dehumanizing images over and over.ⁱ As we know, it worked only too well.

The danger is this; by drawing an analogy between Trump and his supporters to evil animal characters, the Progressives on Twitter may be frighteningly close to doing what the Nazis did. They didn’t say Conservatives are evil and subhuman; they frolicked with images and analogies suggesting it.

Several Conservatives, including this writer, engaged in the conversation. The danger was pointed out. The German propaganda machine used evil and subhuman suggestions against the Jews; you may be starting down a similar path towards Conservatives. The path can make you capable of atrocities, or indifferent to atrocities, towards a target group. Tweet exchanges went much like this:

Progressive: “Wow! A profound interpretation of “The Lion King.” MAGA = hyena for sure.”

Conservative: “I am a conservative Christian. The metaphor you like likens me to an evil hyena. Apparently you feel that way about me. I don’t feel that way about you. To me, you are a human being, not a hyena. We share something; we are both human beings. Just wanted you to know that.”

Progressive: “You are apparently incapable of understanding a metaphor. By your own evil actions you liken yourself to evil hyenas.”

Conservative: “No, Conservatives took actions but Progressives embraced and proclaimed the metaphor. Anyway, I know you are not literally calling me a cartoon hyena. What I see here is a bigger danger. Once we begin IMAGINING a group of human beings as evil, with a suggestion of being subhuman, any of us can be moved in a very bad direction. I have said the same thing to Conservatives.”

Progressive: “I’m not saying you are evil. I am saying supporting this administration is evil. I like this thought. Individuals should be judged by their concrete actions, not their loyalty to social norms and slippery categories.”

Conservative: “So the 60 million who voted for Trump in 2016 and support him now, which are concrete actions, you judge to be evil. Isn’t that the reasonable albeit unspoken conclusion?”

Progressive: “You lack the education and intelligence to comprehend anything. Good day dolt.”

Conservatives lean strongly upon the idea that there is commonality among human beings. And for many of us, part of that commonality is the possibility of being wrong, even badly wrong.  The viewpoint – Nazi, Conservative, Progressive, whatever – is not the issue.  We all want to believe we are right and good.  The propagandist starts knowing we think those who disagree with us are wrong and suspect to some degree. Then, by cleverly shaped images and suggestions, we can be led to feel those others are evil and maybe even subhuman.

It is unlikely Conservatives are doomed to fall under the boot of a few Progressives tweeting about “The Lion King.” It is equally unlikely that every Progressive is hardened in the worst possible way. The lesson here is not about the evils of Progressivism.

The lesson here is that we Conservatives need to avoid the propaganda trap ourselves. It is important for Conservatives to view Progressives as human beings unclouded by contrary feelings. The day will come when the animosity and division in our land will change. By keeping the evil-subhuman messages out of your mind, you can be a healer and a unifier when the time comes.

We conservatives need to police one another. Criticizing the Progressive position is one thing; dehumanizing Progressives is another. When dealing with Progressives, tell them how you see them. “Progressive, I see you as a human being.” It is that simple.  By doing so, you show your conservatism is moral, that you are not the thoughtless immoral money grabber they suspect you are.  And you can begin setting some common ground. Expect to receive some insults for you effort. Ignore them.  Responding to insults with insults reinforces the worst things Progressives have heard about you.

Remember, it is the subtle hints, unspoken conclusions, and suggestive images that are the most dangerous. Cling to the notion that all people are like you; they are human. No matter what happens, don’t let the bigger danger consume you.