Lynn, I agree that the authoritarian mindset is a big factor, especially for those who continue to follow the orange goblin. Your post made me think of articles like this that were circulating a while back:
https://medium.com/@FrankGrubaMc/uncovering-the-roots-of-authoritarianism-and-fascism-70ff25d56ec1
"They found that as children authoritarians experienced excessively harsh and punitive parenting that led to anger but also a fear of disapproval. Thus, they tended to identify with the aggressor and idealize authority figures while assuming a submissive posture in order to avoid punishment. The anger they harbored for authority figures was sometimes directed inward, but more often projected outward on members of groups considered different, inferior and potentially dangerous (scapegoating). Authoritarian individuals also tended to develop a very rigid form of thinking due to an inability to deal with doubt and intolerance for situations which were ambiguous or ill-defined. Thus they feel contempt for the type of open-ended, give-and-take participatory dialogue required for a true democracy. Instead to allay their fear of uncertainty, they look for clear-cut, black-or-white answers from people they regard as unquestionable authorities. This same type of black-or-white thinking is utilized in their relations with others such that they adopt an us-versus-them stance, particularly when experiencing threat from those they see as failing to conform to unquestionable social norms."
It does seems that social norms in America and elsewhere have been steadily moving away from this mindset and style of parenting. I see much more kindness and open-mindedness in this generation coming up than in my own (Gen X).
And I agree with Michelle, that the climate-related disasters we will continue to face will force people to overcome social divides and work together. I've been heartened by rhetoric from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and one of the leader of Extinction Rebellion that emphasizes connection with rather than rejection of people with whom we disagree. We are all in this together and love is always the right path forward.
I see the divide in the long run being less severe. Especially when the folks of older generations pass, the younger ones that are coming to adulthood now seem to be so very tolerant of differences in one another. Even the young adults in their 20s today are more embracing of differences in people. People are also less involved in organized religion.
My own generation (I'm late 50s) and older hold on to much more religious, racial, social and political differences.
My husband and I don't talk about politics to our close friends and family because many of them are republican and my best friend, while she herself is a democrat, her husband is a republican, so politics is not usually discussed.
What would help the healing is when people start to realize that the Left and the Right aren't the problem, it is the Top vs the Bottom. This whole orchestration has tried to divide us into Left and Right Tribes, but the real battle are the Wealthy Elites vs everyone else. They can't win (on sheer numbers and economic power alone) against the non elites, thus they've created this false Left/Right conflict to help pass their agendas while we are distracted.
They want an American Oligarchy drive society.....and they feel they are close to attaining it.
What would help the healing is when people start to realize that the Left and the Right aren't the problem, it is the Top vs the Bottom. This whole orchestration has tried to divide us into Left and Right Tribes, but the real battle are the Wealthy Elites vs everyone else. They can't win (on sheer numbers and economic power alone) against the non elites, thus they've created this false Left/Right conflict to help pass their agendas while we are distracted.
They want an American Oligarchy drive society.....and they feel they are close to attaining it.
I think you are exactly right!
Some encouraging views from those young people who are 17 now, but will be able to vote in 2020:
At Chalmette High School in Louisiana, students in a world history class made their case for or against punishing President Trump. The classroom voted to impeach and remove Trump: 14 to 7 (in area that overwhelmingly supported Trump in 2016)
Well, I’m having upsetting dreams nearly every night. Although I’m feeling/sensing/seeing indications that trump went too far even for some Republicans,
I am having disturbing dreams nearly every night. Many a week include my sister, who voted for trump most likely based on her desire to get a conservative Supreme Court . Abortion has been the biggest issue for her. In the two or three letters I’ve written her in the past 3 years, I’ve asked her questions about her beliefs that include all the mean, immoral, inhumane things trump has done. She never responds.
As long as she has her “religious” beliefs, I don’t feel I can be friends with her anymore. This also includes her belief that my partner and I of nearly 29 years shouldn’t have been allowed to be married.
I'm obviously grieving what we had finally developed for about 15 years of our adult life as she is 8 years older than I am. And it was fun. I visited. We traveled. We spent some holidays together.
Now she lives with her daughter’s family in Idaho. Sometimes I don’t think about her, but the loss keeps gnawing at me. The point is that she is very stubborn. I don’t believe she will say “it was good while it lasted” because she still believes Obama is a Muslim born in Kenya and against the U.S. And her religious beliefs are in concrete.
She is 76 years old and I know something could happen to either one of us at any time. A psychic recently told me that we would never talk again before one or the other of us passes away. Sometimes I somewhat accept it, but my dreams are obviously showing how much I’m tormented by this loss. I do believe many will never accept Trump’s downfall and I fear there may be violence once he’s gone.
Anita