I was raised in the 1970’s and ‘80s by very Catholic, moderately Conservative Republican parents.
Like most kids, I paid very little attention to politics—that was boring grown-up stuff. Still, in the tradition of “little pitchers have big ears,” I certainly listened enough to get some impressions, and again, like most kids, I adopted my parents’ attitudes.
What this means is that I spent my childhood and teen years thinking Democrats were weak and naïve, the wealthy were unfairly taxed, Ronald Reagan was a great president, and Jimmy Carter was a rube.
It is important to say that none of these “beliefs” were passionate on my part; they were simply, as I said, adopted attitudes. My parents made absolutely no attempt to indoctrinate any of us into this headset.
The beliefs that my parents DID passionately promote were those of equality; we were never taught that our religion or race were superior in any way, and any adult who voiced those kinds of thoughts in front of us got shut down. When the AIDS crisis struck in the 80s, my parents adamantly rejected the religiously promoted idea that this scourge was “God’s punishment” of homosexuals and backed me up one memorable Thanksgiving when I unloaded on a relative who opined that it was. My parents also recycled back when it required a lot of effort, never once condemned poverty as laziness or weakness and taught us that even when we do not agree with the choices others are making, we should always do our best not to judge but rather to extend our compassion.
My parents were very good parents and very good people.
That having been said, once I got out of the house and away at college I started learning about the wide spectrum of political beliefs out there. Most of the friends I made came from backgrounds more liberal than my own, and I slowly started to realize that the fundamental morality of liberalism was more in keeping with the way I was raised than conservatism. However, when my first opportunity to vote in a Presidential election occurred during my college years, my conditioning kicked in and I confidently voted for George H.W. Bush—because what, I was going to vote for Walter Mondale?
But as it turns out, Bush Sr. was both the first and last Republican I ever cast a vote for as President of the United States.
As I moved out into the world on my own, first living in NYC and then for many years in Los Angeles, I started becoming more myself and no longer just someone’s kid. And because of the urban environments I lived in, multiculturalism and inclusion were the norm, especially during the years I spent in L.A. often working side-by-side with the alleged “illegals” our current administration hopes to “wall out” of our society; I was repeatedly taught very humbling lessons about privilege by the very people who have been unfairly marked as bringing “drugs,” “crime,” and “rape” to our country.
The qualities I consistently saw demonstrated by these “drug dealing criminals and rapists” were actually an astonishing work ethic, devotion to family and eagerness to learn. I could tell you stories that would take your breath away, make you weep with compassion for the plight of people who were so very grateful to have the opportunity to park your car while you went into an expensive restaurant to enjoy a fancy meal. Of course, this is just my personal experience; my nine years of unfailing, one-on-one personal experience.
In other words, these are just facts.
There have been several studies that show that there are actual structural differences in the conservative brain v. the brain of a liberal and how we process facts is a critical element.
Liberals tend to have a larger anterior cingulate gyrus; this area is responsible for taking in new information applying it to decision making or choices.
Conservatives tend to have a larger right amygdala; that being a structure that processes more emotional information—specifically that which is fear-based.
So the frustration many liberals feel with this seemingly new strain of what Andy Borowitz has coined “fact-resistant humans” is ironically based on a FACT. Liberals and conservatives are actually “wired” differently, and this goes a long way towards explaining why we have been locked in a bitter stalemate, with each side refusing to budge because the other side is “WRONG.”
You can’t make much headway in an argument when the burden of proof for your opponent lies not in the implacable facts you are presenting, but in their own emotional responses.
So there are at least two known factors contributing to a person’s political ideology—nature and nurture. We are all conditioned to some degree or another by those who raised us and it is important to acknowledge that if you were raised in a loving environment by people who consistently demonstrated good character, you would have not only NO REASON to doubt their perspective, it would be almost disrespectful to do so. Another important element of nurture is whether or not you were raised in an insular, homogenous community or if you were raised with diversity.
Then, we also have the biological feature of how our brains have formed.
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How important is all of this to consider when we are dealing with what we believe is the “unreasonableness” of the “other side”?
I’d say it’s critical. As a person who apparently has greater ease in taking in new information and applying it to decision making than some of my fellow citizens, it would be entirely hypocritical for me NOT to acknowledge these facts and assimilate them in my approach to our current political landscape. I think there is very little (nothing) to be gained by villainizing those with whom we disagree who may have exercised their right to vote in a manner that we see as destructive to the well-being of our country; they may have all of the aforementioned circumstances working against their ability to understand the consequences of that choice.
In other words, let’s not waste our precious time demonizing the “other” on the street. We are seeing far too much of this, especially in light of the unconstitutional Muslim ban. As Einstein said, “we cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.”
However, once one (or many—legion, it currently seems) of our citizens with the enlarged amygdalas gets into a position of power (like POTUS—or Speaker of the House—or…damn, we could be here all day), those of us who can better process facts need to get moving. Although the list of FACTS that bear derogatory descriptions of our new leader just hit the floor and keep on rolling—the facts are NOT our best allies in the struggle to resist all the harm he will and is doing to our fellow citizens and country.
We need to understand that the “other side” processes through emotion, so that is where our power lies.
This emotional appeal was demonstrated peacefully and gloriously by the Women’s March and now by the continuing intelligent protests that seem to be springing up daily in fresh response to the daily horrors and indignities instigated by this new administration. “Our side” has seen that the FACTS are a throwaway when dealing with “the other side.” We have taken this information and redirected, knowing that ultimately our beliefs are not about facts any more than they are for the conservatives.
We are following our emotions, too—we are asserting that compassion, inclusion, acceptance, and open-heartedness are our “political position.”
Let us continue down this path of love away from fear.
Let us continue to demonstrate our compassion every single chance we get, even when (or especially when) dealing with the other side.
Compassion is not the same of weakness. Compassion says, “I will stand up for those who need my help.” Compassion says, “I see you, but no matter how afraid you are, I cannot allow you to hurt anyone else.”
In this way, we shall overcome. Oh, and then there are the facts. And as John Adams said, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
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And thank you for sharing this!
What’s your take on what you just read?
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The study you reference only used 44 college aged people
I’m not sure I’m understanding this. It appears that you’re saying the left has the logic and reasoning facts and the right is all emotion. But my experience is that the right has failed because it gives cold facts and doesn’t appeal to emotion. When the left is asked why they support refugees for example they talk about morals and values and don’t seem to also consider costs and collateral damage or benefit of that. So yes Kara. I’m confused with your point. Other than the opposing sides are not connecting on anything.