ONLY CYNICISM AND DISTRUST CAN BE AFFORDED
We can only be skeptical, almost cynical toward them, and with deep distrust - but at what cost?
It would seem that the level of distrust is very high. Those who are pro-democracy have deep skepticism and distrust for the contingent on the right who are in the cult of Trump, and for those who are committed to gain or retain power through any means, seemingly prefering to use trickery if at all possible, thus the Roger Stone types have been a mainstay on the right for many, many years. Those on the right have skepticism, and cynicism along with a deep distrust of government, institutions, law enforcement, etc., primarily due to the steady diet of propaganda fed to them over the years from the right wing media. It seems that the skepticism and distrust is at a pandemic level across the board, and it’s all undoubtedly damaging to the country, but it arises due to different reasons. The left by and large does not dance to conspiracy theory as those on the right do, and our concerns are basically focused on the people who do roll with conspiracy theory beliefs, and who act out irrationally often, such as what happened on January 6, 2021. We on the left seemingly can spot lying much easier than those on the right, and in no way do we take stock in what is said by right wing leaders as even having any link to truth involved. The level of lying prevents any degree of trust in the opposing side, as it only increases, and we look closely even at those who may be never-Trumper’s with great suspicion. All in all, the nation is submerged into a deep pool of dysfunction these days, when time is running out on us addressing climate change to the degree which is required. We are fighting for our democracy very intensely now, when we should be placing our attention elsewhere. So the same problems are present on the left, center and right but for different reasons. Here is my verse.
What I found from a word search on X about ‘distrust.’ The distrust written about is in relation to the distrust on the right for reasons I touched on before. If this distrust on the right is more destructive than that we on the left have is probably up for debate I imagine. It’s fodder for thinking perhaps, trying to see the bigger picture.
What I found from a word search on Truth Social on ‘skepticism.’ Again the trust placed on Trump among these people is most astonishing, it’s very hard to reconcile in my mind, and probably in your’s as well. One can only hope that they will not act on their beliefs.
I tried to find applicable quotes to lend to the discussion.
“Scepticism has never founded empires, established principles, changed the world's heart. The great doers in history have always been men of *faith.”
- Chapin.
CHAPIN, EDWIN HUBBELL, born in Union Village, Washington county, New York, December 29, 1814; a distinguished Universalist divine, and an eminent pulpit orator, writer, and lecturer; died, December 27, 1880.
*faith - allegiance to duty or a person: LOYALTY
(1): fidelity to one's promises
(2): sincerity of intentions
acted in good faith
NOTE: faith involves more than faith in a certain God in my mind. So I wished to expand the meaning of the word for the particular quote above.
“The less you trust others, the less you will be deceived.”
- Rochefoucauld.
François de La Rochefoucauld, 2nd Duke of La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac (15 September 1613 – 17 March 1680) was an accomplished French moralist of the era of French Classical literature and author of Maximes and Memoirs, the only two works of his dense literary œuvre published. His Maximes portrays the callous nature of human conduct, with a cynical attitude towards putative virtue and avowals of affection, friendship, love, and loyalty. Leonard Tancock regards Maximes as "one of the most deeply felt, most intensely lived texts in French literature", with his "experience, his likes and dislikes, sufferings and petty spites ... crystallized into absolute truths."
A note about a the article in Psychology Today about narcissists believing conspiracy theories more than the general population which is found in the second image above, I recommend that one reads it. It explains Donald Trump’s proclivity toward conspiracy theory spreading somewhat more to me. So this is my posting for today. I hope it was found to be interesting.
79th posting, August 23, 2023.