Reply #79: Swift boats are a perfect example...

[Old Mouse]

Kerry realized his fight was against the propaganda machine, and not those falling under its sway.

At the beginning it was only about the word. Many of the small pulpit religious leaders were clearly saying they did not object to civil unions. That's where the lack of understanding I'm talking about comes from. No one on the right listened to them then, when dialog was possible. Their message was misunderstood due to impatience and a lack of empathy.

The groups that began the protest against gay marriage were NOT the "fags go to hell" crowd. But all of that got swept away in the hysteria that followed: Once the problem went national others were involved in sculpting the issue, and pulling in elements that guaranteed intolerance.

The resulting conflict caused a tribalistic transformation that furthered the polarization of all social issues. Moderation gave way to fanaticism on both sides. The "climate of fear" kept those on the left from recognizing allies on the right; now those allies are lost due to neglect and outside manipulation.

Do I blame the right? I think they posses more free will, have greater capability for understanding. If the effort had been made to empathize with religious fundamentalism, it would have been understood that was not possible for them to give up on that word due to the way the argument had been framed.

The propaganda machine needs conflict to work. Can't have a fight with only one player.