I'm not sure I can fully understand or dissect the unbelievable disintegration of tolerance, kindness, and the will to do for the common good in our country, but I do think we can readily identify the catalyst. Our former president used the bully pulpit to widely and unapologetically display and-- in the eyes of many frustrated Americans-- legitimize hatred and condescension. For millions of marginalized people this became the green light needed to act out. Rather than take the sometimes hard road to navigate the democratic process, suddenly it was okay to simply act out and "tell it like it is." Suddenly it was okay to let the whole of America know and experience their anger, even when they didn't have any solutions to offer, only violet rhetoric and actions. And once that dam was opened and those actions became "legitimized," all the sewage came flowing to the surface, polluting the entire environment.
Violence in America certainly predates the arrival of the last administration but I don't believe we have ever seen the growth of such a widespread doctrine of hate. There is no rationale to it. It's growth and health depends on false doctrines that encourage fear and loss of place. And as long as it can be used as a source of tremendous revenue, it will continue to hold a legitimate social and political place in these United States. The actions that are driven by hate and frustration, fueled by disproven doctrines, and encouraged by politicians whose income, retirement, and lifelong benefits depend on pandering to the frustrated and misdirected masses, those actions will continue. And so too will the sales of weapons and advertising space.
This will be the legacy of the last administration: the promotion of the inalienable right to hate, to obstruct, to refuse to participate for a greater good.
Regarding Tucker Carlson and Fox, it seems to me that boycotting advertisers on his program is not nearly enough. Boycotting advertisers on FoxNews is not nearly enough. What really needs to happen is a full scale boycott of ALL Fox affiliated networks and media, which would get a giant lift if athletes use the substantial footprint of Fox Sports to speak out about the network when being interviewed, etc. Athletes once again can lead the way here once again. We need more Kareem’s frankly.
Keeping people in a constant state of anger and rage are the fastest ticket to success on the Internet.The schism that exists now in America can't be healed via the things that caused it meaning the agenda motivated medias and platforms of the uninformed.A new and different way of communicating to calm peoples rage and anger is necessary.There needs to be a modus to calm people and tell them everything's o.k.That its not that we hate each other but that we don't know each other and labelling must stop.I worried decades ago that America was particularly efficient at erasing the elderly which means no respect for wisdom.Other nations have great respect and revere their older population like Japan.We have no Wisdom Keepers, no Griots, no Shamans. Admittedly I don't know what new form of communication that is yet.It will come no doubt but with many casualties in its wake.
Our Constitution permits the infantile, the irrational, &the indescribable evil to proliferate under the guise of free speech. The current leader of all of this awful descent into the current madness is, of course, Agent Orange. I can only imagine how energized he is by the actions of his rabid followers.
What happened in Buffalo & in other places is so tragic, demoralizing, & totally evil. This is what we must fight against. Networks like Faux should be shut down because of the constant garbage that is expelled from the mouths of their so-called hosts. They have become the embodiment of hate, disinformation, violence, intolerance, etc. Why should we allow them to continue? Because I don't watch Faux channel, I had no idea how awful tc is until I watched your clip & don't understand how even normal people can watch & listen to him. OMG!!
The wrong-wing wants to take away our rights. Let's take away theirs, or at least shut down their ability to spread their garbage. Their leader, whom they so blindly follow, is a con man, failed businessman, liar, & just plain despicable.
Perhaps there is a way for a great awakening to happen. It must come with a change in our attitudes toward each other & a recognition of our shared humanity. I don't know how we can survive otherwise.
It breaks my heart to read that crime and racism still plagues America. Something has to be done, but what is the question. The last administration really has left this country with a nasty stain of hatred that going to take centuries to undo. Unfortunately is never going to be a size fits all solution to combat these issues in our country.
Ps: Thank you so much Mr. Kareem for this informative and powerful article. You may not respond to this, but I thought I just thank you for eloquently stating the facts and keeping us informed with your powerful writing even though the truth may be painful to hear but necessary. I appreciate you for enlightening your readers on what's going on in America and the world. 🙏
This Replacement Theory sounds almost identical to 1930’s Germany. In fact, if you look at what’s happening today, doublespeak, endless blaming, fascist tendencies , intellectual vacuum, etc, the 80 years has taught us nothing.
Kareem, I look at people such as Tucker, Murdoch, or Zuckerberg and many others and wonder when is enough enough? Each wildly successful and each has an insatiable appetite for more money. It doesn't matter that they already have more than any of them could count or spend. In fact, the product they produce soils our world and even though it's their world too since it generates more money for them they continue. Unfortunately that's all that appears matters to them. Nothing is ever enough. They pathetic.
If that proverbial pendulum doesn’t swing back soon, we’re all in for a world of hurt. But I must confess, my secret hope is that it snaps and falls heavily upon those pulling it.
Look forward to the day when no one person or group is targeted with a weapon whether that weapon is a gun, bomb, pen,video, newscast, or keyboard. We are all different with basic human rights. There is nothing wrong with being different whether it is color, gender, politics, etc. God help us!
Thanks for a thoughtful piece. Sorry that you had to write it. And as a member of both groups I am, like you, not shocked. But I do think you're letting Fox / Carlson off too easy when you say they are not responsible for the shootings. Carlson's rhetoric (and the megaphone that Fox provides him) are the proximate cause of the shooting - they didn't pull the trigger, but the massacre was a foreseeable consequence of their actions.
I'm not sure I can fully understand or dissect the unbelievable disintegration of tolerance, kindness, and the will to do for the common good in our country, but I do think we can readily identify the catalyst. Our former president used the bully pulpit to widely and unapologetically display and-- in the eyes of many frustrated Americans-- legitimize hatred and condescension. For millions of marginalized people this became the green light needed to act out. Rather than take the sometimes hard road to navigate the democratic process, suddenly it was okay to simply act out and "tell it like it is." Suddenly it was okay to let the whole of America know and experience their anger, even when they didn't have any solutions to offer, only violet rhetoric and actions. And once that dam was opened and those actions became "legitimized," all the sewage came flowing to the surface, polluting the entire environment.
Violence in America certainly predates the arrival of the last administration but I don't believe we have ever seen the growth of such a widespread doctrine of hate. There is no rationale to it. It's growth and health depends on false doctrines that encourage fear and loss of place. And as long as it can be used as a source of tremendous revenue, it will continue to hold a legitimate social and political place in these United States. The actions that are driven by hate and frustration, fueled by disproven doctrines, and encouraged by politicians whose income, retirement, and lifelong benefits depend on pandering to the frustrated and misdirected masses, those actions will continue. And so too will the sales of weapons and advertising space.
This will be the legacy of the last administration: the promotion of the inalienable right to hate, to obstruct, to refuse to participate for a greater good.
So sad to read this, and to agree with it completely. Eloquently stated.
Regarding Tucker Carlson and Fox, it seems to me that boycotting advertisers on his program is not nearly enough. Boycotting advertisers on FoxNews is not nearly enough. What really needs to happen is a full scale boycott of ALL Fox affiliated networks and media, which would get a giant lift if athletes use the substantial footprint of Fox Sports to speak out about the network when being interviewed, etc. Athletes once again can lead the way here once again. We need more Kareem’s frankly.
Keeping people in a constant state of anger and rage are the fastest ticket to success on the Internet.The schism that exists now in America can't be healed via the things that caused it meaning the agenda motivated medias and platforms of the uninformed.A new and different way of communicating to calm peoples rage and anger is necessary.There needs to be a modus to calm people and tell them everything's o.k.That its not that we hate each other but that we don't know each other and labelling must stop.I worried decades ago that America was particularly efficient at erasing the elderly which means no respect for wisdom.Other nations have great respect and revere their older population like Japan.We have no Wisdom Keepers, no Griots, no Shamans. Admittedly I don't know what new form of communication that is yet.It will come no doubt but with many casualties in its wake.
Another excellent piece. Couldn't add a thing to it. Thank you, Kareem.
Succinct. Smart. Sad.
Our Constitution permits the infantile, the irrational, &the indescribable evil to proliferate under the guise of free speech. The current leader of all of this awful descent into the current madness is, of course, Agent Orange. I can only imagine how energized he is by the actions of his rabid followers.
What happened in Buffalo & in other places is so tragic, demoralizing, & totally evil. This is what we must fight against. Networks like Faux should be shut down because of the constant garbage that is expelled from the mouths of their so-called hosts. They have become the embodiment of hate, disinformation, violence, intolerance, etc. Why should we allow them to continue? Because I don't watch Faux channel, I had no idea how awful tc is until I watched your clip & don't understand how even normal people can watch & listen to him. OMG!!
The wrong-wing wants to take away our rights. Let's take away theirs, or at least shut down their ability to spread their garbage. Their leader, whom they so blindly follow, is a con man, failed businessman, liar, & just plain despicable.
Perhaps there is a way for a great awakening to happen. It must come with a change in our attitudes toward each other & a recognition of our shared humanity. I don't know how we can survive otherwise.
It breaks my heart to read that crime and racism still plagues America. Something has to be done, but what is the question. The last administration really has left this country with a nasty stain of hatred that going to take centuries to undo. Unfortunately is never going to be a size fits all solution to combat these issues in our country.
Ps: Thank you so much Mr. Kareem for this informative and powerful article. You may not respond to this, but I thought I just thank you for eloquently stating the facts and keeping us informed with your powerful writing even though the truth may be painful to hear but necessary. I appreciate you for enlightening your readers on what's going on in America and the world. 🙏
This Replacement Theory sounds almost identical to 1930’s Germany. In fact, if you look at what’s happening today, doublespeak, endless blaming, fascist tendencies , intellectual vacuum, etc, the 80 years has taught us nothing.
Thank you Kareem. You have very good communication skills that get to the essence of the issues. We must all work towards solutions.
Thank you again, Kareem, for your sane, measured and passionate eloquence.
Kareem, I look at people such as Tucker, Murdoch, or Zuckerberg and many others and wonder when is enough enough? Each wildly successful and each has an insatiable appetite for more money. It doesn't matter that they already have more than any of them could count or spend. In fact, the product they produce soils our world and even though it's their world too since it generates more money for them they continue. Unfortunately that's all that appears matters to them. Nothing is ever enough. They pathetic.
Kareem I could not agree more.
If that proverbial pendulum doesn’t swing back soon, we’re all in for a world of hurt. But I must confess, my secret hope is that it snaps and falls heavily upon those pulling it.
Look forward to the day when no one person or group is targeted with a weapon whether that weapon is a gun, bomb, pen,video, newscast, or keyboard. We are all different with basic human rights. There is nothing wrong with being different whether it is color, gender, politics, etc. God help us!
Thanks for a thoughtful piece. Sorry that you had to write it. And as a member of both groups I am, like you, not shocked. But I do think you're letting Fox / Carlson off too easy when you say they are not responsible for the shootings. Carlson's rhetoric (and the megaphone that Fox provides him) are the proximate cause of the shooting - they didn't pull the trigger, but the massacre was a foreseeable consequence of their actions.