Personality is a determiner of a lot of things in our lives. We often think of it as a tucked away bottle that comes out every once in a while. However, personality is the operating system by which everything else is seen, understood and approached. Some personalities are really good at using propaganda to put themselves on the top of a social structure (A very shaky social structure.) while other are bent toward more pro social ends. When personality and the propaganda people use goes unchallenged we have the risk for the issue to rise again.
The problem with the use of propaganda is that it relies on sensationalism that often isn't based in fact. When people heighten emotions and inflame tensions there is almost never going to be a positive outcome. Emotions reduce critical thinking and in turn create situations where alternative explanations either can't be seen or are completely ignored in an effort to appease the feelings.
Some people draw power by inflaming the emotions of others and have become accustomed to the magic of social influence. They surround themselves by followers and emulators so that they can continue to feel secure, in control, and "wanted". Most of their friends won't question much. Where most people grow out of such self serving needs there are some who will suffer low overall functioning their whole lives.
The problem is when such low functioning behaviors focused on people of different races, religions, values, looks, political parties and recreation. In this case, the behavior sought to exploit existing bigotry and extremism within their ranks to target those who are seen as "others" for personal gain. While these behaviors are grotesque and in normal situations would have been challenged by healthy group members it was accepted wholesale and acted upon.
That creates a moral problem for those on the receiving end. They can't allow such behaviors to continue because people were injured, communities damages and the very basic Constitutional protections afforded to all Americans were discarded. The lessons such group members taught their children and those in their friend network as to #1 their ability to circumvent/pervert the law and #2 to illegally gain resources must be unrooted if the system is going to have integrity (Its a big word in today's world and we need a lot more of it!)
I know as a people and as a nation we are better then this. These one off situations do not represent where we are heading as a nation. There is faith that as a nation we do not accept these behaviors as "appropriate" and as a system we will challenge such behaviors; especially when local systems fail. A free pass in this instant is a stamp of approval and without at a minimum mental health evaluation and follow up these distorted group behaviors are likely to continue.
(While most have stopped their aggressive manners a few seem willing to continue forth. Worse, a lack of remorse among the originating party is apparent and when matched with a wink and nod acceptance the situation is likely to erupt again someday because the root problem hasn't been resolved. Contrary to popular opinion...having a difference race, religion, clothing style, recreation, etc... etc... is not the problem. Its those who engaged in wanton aggression to cover distorted feelings that pose the biggest risk. If we are having difficulty understanding this concept we may need to have a refresher on how and why this country started in the first place.)
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