What do we mean when we talk about a "narrative?"
Reality is complicated. A narrative has to do with the way we connect the dots and then say, "That's reality."
A worldview.
When a narrative hardens into orthodoxy, we have an ideology. A narrative could be open and subject to reality checks, but that's not going to be so easy if it's sustaining us over the void. We desire a narrative to which we can cling, it seems, even to the point of being "true believers."
If you are a Trumpist, then any evidence to the contrary will denote a "never-Trumper." No matter how bad he is, God is using him for good. And his opponents routinely will be said to be worse. Okay to talk about Trump Derangement Syndrome, but no bona fide criticisms ever; only haters and traitors. That way, you don't have to confront any contrary evidence. No discussion allowed since none is valid.
If, on the left, you are full-steam into systemic racism and believe that the status quo equals white supremacy, then, similarly, anybody who doesn't sign on is a racist plain and simple. As with the Trumpistadores, your position does not admit of legitimate criticism. Any disagreement reveals white fragility and is invalid. No thinking when slogans will do. Re-education replaces dialogue.
The recently enlightened are well-meaning and sincerely want to support reforms and improvements. But the ready-made ideology lurks, justifying their positions, and, next thing you know, they're preaching and proclaiming.
They have the truth; the enemy has nothing but lies.
They can fit in and agree, even if that means being a people-pleaser -- and nobody likes a people-pleaser.
They don't see they're limiting their view to the part of the narrative they like. They don't see that the ideology comes with blinders permitting them to pin all the blame on the opponent. They are casting stones as though without sin.
The activists are strict about the narrative, what can be part of it and what can't. And who can be part. Mayor Bottoms said that enough is enough and that police brutality or society can't be blamed for the death of an eight-year-old. But first she had equivocated, delaying the cleaning up of the police-free zone -- the zone taken over by the protesters -- at the behest of a city council member who claimed she could negotiate with the protesters. And the child died. Yet subsequently, the activists back at that Wendy's called out Mayer Bottoms and said the blood's on her hands.
One of the main organizers of the big Atlanta protests was one of three arrested for the Wendy's arson. Did the charges stick? Haven't found that in the news.
News stories that don't fit the approved narrative tend to drop out of sight. The approved narrative is about the goodness of peaceful protest of which violence isn't supposed to be part. Talking about stuff that doesn't fit can sound crazy, or even heretical. The media, being part of society just like the rest of us, is subject to ideological pressures.
Stepping out of line is not permitted.
Who can be perfect enough to stand up to true believers who demand perfection and who have never made a mistake, for whom all criticism denotes heresy?
Biden?
What is the danger here?
A narrative is not infinitely flexible.
Reality exists. Truth exists (even when difficult to discern).
If you step off a cliff you will fall, even if your story is that you can fly.
At what point does that happen?
Even a coronavirus can be politicized, distraction or no, up to the point it rears up and bites you.
Even would-be peaceful protest can be politicized.
I want dialogue and the exchange of ideas that happens in the political center.
I want to love my neighbor, not demonize them, even though demonizing and creation of orthodoxy/heresy is good for crowd control and the marshaling of troops.
Loving my neighbor is not always equal to telling them what they want to hear.
But, with dialogue, maybe, just maybe, they/we won't step off that cliff.
There's going to be a backlash. You can see it coming. Not a "whitelash" or "white rage;" not an effort on the part of "white" society to undo the gains of black people a la Carol Anderson. No. It's built-in, since at some point the preferred narrative, like an overstretched rubber band, will revert to truth.
My greatest concern:
that the departures from truth and failures in facing truth on the part of the left is handing ammunition to Trump;
that the force of the backlash will propel Trump to victory.
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