I always thought of most people as truth seeking and desiring to have the best outcomes. What we find is that is often not the case. Lies are often believed because people lack critical thinking and alternative explanations. However, lies can also be dangerous and can harm, destroy, damage or sometimes kill. It may also put our institutions as serious risk (i.e. the capital riots) and destroy credibility (people and institutions)if they are not up to the task of tackling societal distortions. Sometimes lies are not innocent and can lead to all types of damage to those they are designed to harm and those that must navigate their way through them.
I'm a believer that truth brings growth and also a believer that lies bring chaos (On an individual and on a national level). While truth can be subjective depending on what race, religion, political party or background one belongs, the essentials of truth reach across all of them (i.e. why I believe our institutions should focus on truth and moral conscious. Its sounding like a repeat over and over. Yet I'm likely one of the few individuals in society that know this on a deeper learning level.).
Lies of the past designed to self-enrich and harm others often repeated at later times because the essential dysfunction hasn't been dealt and the potential for gain not removed (Why I also support mental health for extremism). For example, one might lie for money and they may lie because they are embarrassed. That of course doesn't consider who they would be embarrassed from and their essential value to society (...everyone has value but that value should be based in more than one's social networks. We can even learn from dark souls as they have value to our learning.)
Manipulators distort and prey upon the weaknesses of their followership who lack critical thinking skills, education, and exposure. Its easy! Just make up a story and some people won't question (Think of how our capital was attacked and all of it based on perception. True or not it wasn't the way to deal with it. There are processes in place.). As the rumors designed to incite hate in their social networks grow, so does the lack of accountability over the willingness to harm targets. Responsibility declines the more people get involved (In this case we did a good job following up on such groups.).
As perpetrators find a path to enrichment and harm they will continue to use the same tools over and over without remorse until they are held to account. You would need a moral code, empathy, and integrity to stop yourself. Yet when a mob of blind supporters act on such lies you have a bigger problem. Worse, when law enforcement (by the way I actually support law enforcement but look with disdain on corruption and lack of accountability. While it may seem ignorant to some, our institutions must maintain a level of integrity.) becomes the enforcer of their "clans" distorted values we have much more than bad behavior going on! (Its a system derailed from a larger system and indicates there may be other victims and things going on just under the surface. There are fundamental differences between a mistake and intentional targeting. It needs an in-depth investigation to protect the public and ensure the values of the nation and constitution reign supreme. i.e. the law of the land.)
For example, I characterize myself as a conservative that has lots of liberal friends (some of the stuff they say makes sense as its a different perspective that leads to insight. I couldn't care less if someone says I'm a Rino, Dino, or whatever for exploring multiple solutions for the widest members of society) As a conservative, I feel a level of repugnance over those who sacked our capital with violence in order to create gain (Likely manipulated by key officials, foreign intelligence, and misuse of social media. If I had the opportunity to be there I would have been on the front lines with the capital police defending our democracy. Violence and power over others isn't the way to solve these issues. Our politicians are often afraid to go against the grain. Now we know there is more to the story. Other reading... Russia Election Concerns, Election Manipulation, Hate Groups Social Media, Central Values, Capitol Riots, Capitol riots officers, Capitol Documents, Social Media Degroot Road to ultra nationalism. ).
There simply comes a point where you say are we going to let the most ignorant tell the rest of us what to do and what to believe (In this social group they have already decided that their network is more important than other values. Values are up for social comparison and sale. Unfortunately, their close association with law enforcement allowed them to easily manipulate the integrity of the system. That does not include the officers and departments that recognized the false information, adjusted their mistakes, and in the end did the right thing. It does relate to those who persist and those who seek to create divisions in society by misusing their positions to exclude targets from certain positions, opportunities, and roles in society. Its a crime! Yes "bad apples" can commit crimes!).
The bad values started long long time ago and is part of a life long dysfunction. That dysfunction led to exploiting people for personal gain (even people who were on their death beds) and is repeated again when new opportunities arise. In order to hide their bad behavior and create gains people made up a story and the ignorant accepted it as truth. Lies create chaos as their social networks (including corrupted officers) began to believe, spread, and act on such behaviors (rooted in their own own racism and extremist views) to come after the targets to keep those behaviors silent.
I believe that people should have every opportunity to come to greater awareness over their own behaviors and have opportunities to reform themselves. When they are not able to do that then the law must create accountability (Not accountability for being a particular race, religion, education, or income level but actual accountability for behaviors that are owned by the perpetrators. Accountability to leads to the best positive outcomes and that doesn't always mean jail time as a punishment. Sometimes awareness of one's own behavior and having to deal with one's own issues is punishment enough.). That accountability could be mental health or it could be jail time depending on each's circumstance.
As for those who consistently supported such behaviors....shame on them and shame on their value systems. I see little difference between the actor and the supporter. I do believe truth will win out over lies and that this can become a good learning lesson for others who juggle and teeter between having values that helpful or having values that are self and/or social group serving. While such people were forgiven the moment the dysfunction became apparent, they were also on the path that allows them to chase their own futures; everyone makes their own choices.
Whether we are dealing with home town dysfunction or national insurrection we should understand that the very root mechanics are the same. It is us that must stand for something greater than self.....that is what make societies strong. Strength comes from setting positive social expectations and enforcing laws with universal wisdom. When we fail to tackle blatant corruption and hate in society it is an indication of what is likely to come as more of the same. Morality must be part of our choices. No institution should be free from that responsibility.
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