There is a deep human impulse to turn reality into familiar and conscious fairy tales.
We all tend to verify our preconceptions and prove information within our group. Modifying a person’s model is cognitively taxed. Emotionally, it is uncomfortable to recognize the strengths of our allies or opponents. Therefore, we all want to open the jagged edges of events until they adapt to the ideologically convenient framework.
But if this impulse is common, then liberals (for example, myself) like to believe that we are less susceptible to it. After all, we are the side of universalism favoring religious fundamentalism, universalism rather than ethnic centricism, and critical descriptions of American history rather than gods.
By contrast, conservatives usually bounce back when moral complexity is . From any sense of loyalty to the truth, their leadership talents are infinite. Probably a progressive historian Heather Cox Richardson suggestsin recent alternative posts.
In Richardson’s claim, McCarthyism teaches the political utility of shameless lies in American rights. By making simple and simple narratives of “we” and “they” and repeating them constantly – conservatives find that they can “build a fictional world”, many voters will inhabit unconsciously. The liberals areReality-based community” – Using phrases known to the George W. Bush administration – may be forced to align with visible facts. However, there is no such obligation in the rights of the United States.
As an example of conservative rule, Richardson cited the Trump administration’s attempt to fix the assassination of Charlie Kirk to the left. Not without reason: The White House’s fanatical publicity about the tragedy was very helpful in supporting Richardson’s portrait of rights.
However, after condemning the Republican privilege of “narrative” rather than “facts,” Richardson wrote the following:
[I]In fact, the so-called Sagittarius is not the person on the left. Killer Tyler Robinson, allegedly a young white man from the Republican, gun lover family, seems to have embraced the man on the far right and dislike Kirk activists. Instead of struggling with reality, right-wing figures use Kirk’s murder to support their fictional world.
Richardson’s post actually cleverly illustrates the dangers of tribal thinking and cognitive tenacity, rather than as expected.
When Richardson posted her column on September 13, there was no good basis for claiming that Robinson was “not the one on the left,” let alone a far-right extremist because he killed Kirk because he was inadequate reactionary. and Charging files Tuesday’s release shows that Richardson’s narrative is wrong.
However, this narrative has been briefly popularized in the left corner of social media. In fact, the idea that Robinson was a proven reactionary is so common among liberals that ABC’s late night host Jimmy Kimmel (apparently) felt safe Pay for lips service on Monday.
Even after Tuesday’s revelation, some left-wing influencers continue to advance Robinson opposes Kirk’s idea Explaining the evidence from the right is the opposite of conspiracy theory.
The left’s embrace of the comforting novel of Kirk’s assassination is understandable. But this is also irresponsible and politically self-deception. In order to truly live in a “reality-based community,” progressives must not only focus on the right fantasy, but also be alert to ourselves.
Our Knowledge of Taylor Robinson’s Motives
Utah authorities filed a lawsuit against Tyler Robinson on Tuesday. Three evidence Prosecution recommendation Robinson opposes Kirk’s politics from the left:
- Robinson’s mother told investigators that her son “has become more politicized and began to lean left more – becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights.” His mother also said he had begun “with his roommate, a biological male who is transitioning to gender.”
- After the shooting, Robinson texted his roommate, calling his roommate “my love” and said Kirk said, “I was hated by him. Some hatred cannot be negotiated.”
- Robinson’s parents told investigators that he explained his crime to them in a similar way, saying Kirk “spread too much hatred.”
The prosecution is not the last sentence about Robinson’s motives (or his introspective). But there is no support in the evidence of assembly that Robinson is the far-right narrative.
How many progressives believe Robinson is a “prostitute”
It is not difficult to understand why progressives are justified to think that Robinson is a reactionary extremist. The so-called killer carved into his bullet shell mentions a series of meme arrays, including one Mocking the so-called furry (Adult dressed in animal costumes during sex), another person who told the observer: “If you read this, it’s gay lmao.”
These etchings are reminiscent of the void, anti-LGBT trolls that are often found on extremely online rights. Charlie Kirkoil” – Announce war In Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA is failing to uphold Fuentes’ clear racist vision in the first place.
From the very beginning, there was reason to suspect that Robinson was a rightist. Most obviously, Kirk gained much more hatred from the left than the right. One of Robinson’s bullet holders reads: “Hey, fascist! Any video game reference).
We become increasingly susceptible to both when we consider ourselves to be free from ideological chauvinism and unreasonable attitudes.
Given the initial set of facts, there are reasons for progressives entertainment Robinson is a white nationalist, but none of them argues for this fact.
But if the “prostitute” theory lacks a reliable factual basis, it provides considerable psychological appeal. It is uncomfortable to accept that you share your worldview with the terrible criminals, or even some powerful moral beliefs. To avoid this discomfort, people often lock it in impossible narratives. To release the chaotic magazine of January 6, many conservatives embrace the theory that the riots were made by Antifa (and/or FBI). To avoid catching the atrocities committed in the name of the reasons they support, some Left wing The decision to attack on October 7 was a false surgery. Denied Israel Inhuman crime Oppose the Gaza people, its defenders told My own story This attributes all the culprits of violence in the Jewish state to its enemies.
I think some progressives’ confidence in Robinson’s conservatism is misplaced, rooted in similar impulses (this is not to say that the hasty assumption about the killer motive is Morality Comparing with the apology of genocide violence). The psychological attraction of the “prostitute” theory makes it so common sense for most progressives that Jimmy Kimmel live broadcast! Apparently, it was comfortable with Robinson being a conservative.
Trump wants to win Robinson’s motivation
Many progressives have abandoned the notion that Kirk was killed for lack of racism after Tuesday’s indictment (Wednesday, Richardson Retreat to claim Robinson’s motive is “not yet clear”).
But some attempts on the left salvage “Prostitute” theory, partly Questioning the authenticity of Robinson’s text exchange and his roommate.
This conspiracy is not only intellectually bankrupt, but also politically self-deception.
The Trump administration hopes to use Kirk’s killing as an excuse to combat progressive dissent. Its arguments for the attack on free expression include a clear fact (Kirke’s killer shares some of the left’s objections to his work), and a series of blatantly wrong or completely unproven claims (Robinson has affiliation with Progressive Organizations) Political violence in the United States Exclusive from the left Federal Communications Commission Have legal authority for police comedians’ remarks).
Therefore, focusing public debate on Robinson’s obvious motivation is for the interest of the government. That’s their subject think Struggle for it – That’s why they try to get Jimmy Kimmel fired Because he misleads this argument.
Progressives must not induce them to fall into a defeated battle. We don’t need to deny the facts about Kirk’s murder to refute the government’s extensive narrative of the tragedy. Whatever Robinson’s motives are, the left is responsible few Political violence in the United States in recent decades. There is no evidence that Kirk’s alleged killer belongs to any organized progressive group, not to mention that his violence was taught directly by the Freedom Foundation to trump trump trump trump overtrication Committed to destroy. In fact, it is actually related to Kirk’s death’s policy response, and the fact is on the progressive side. We should focus on these realities.
More broadly, liberals must strive to avoid further cognitive humility in the future. In my opinion, the broad left is rightly believed that it respects empirical truths more than rights, and comforts for moral ambiguity. However, this is a strict relative advantage. When we consider ourselves to be free from ideological chauvinism and unreasonable attitudes, we become more susceptible to both.
