The Last Stand of the (Human) Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs!! Who wasn’t fascinated by dinosaurs as a kid, or even as an adult? (Think Jurassic Park.) Dinosaurs once ruled the earth — and then they disappeared, or morphed into new creatures like our modern-day birds.

Yes, dinosaurs were powerful, voracious — and extremely primitive. Not unlike our existing human ‘dinosaurs.’

The reptilian dinosaurs are, of course, long extinct — but today’s antisocial human dinosaurs are still very much with us. The vital question is: are our human dinosaurs also on the way out?

Antisocial ‘human dinosaurs’ vs. Civilization

Some folks may object to me calling certain humans ‘human dinosaurs.’ Please let me explain and define my terms a bit.

If we look at the long arc of human history, there has been a very slow, gradual ascent toward greater self-awareness, individual autonomy, and freedom. For example, at one time — not that long ago — slavery was practiced or tolerated across much of the globe; today it is reviled, and has to operate in the shadows. It hasn’t disappeared, but it is no longer ‘socially acceptable.’

Especially over the past two hundred years, many nations and societies across the globe have moved toward more democratic governments and greater freedom for their citizens. In fact, for the first time in human history, human rights and equal rights for women became a recognized ‘thing’ over the past two centuries. But not everywhere — and not everyone liked this development.

As we’ve all often witnessed, by now, usually there is a huge social and/or religious backlash against any social change and ‘progress.’ But not all religious or social groupings resist progress and change; only the ones we call ‘conservative’ or ‘reactionary’ do that. Some social and religious groups welcome change (imagine that!), delight in increasing equality, and fully support human rights for all.

It’s all part of an enduring age-old social struggle, which continues today. Even further, I’d say this struggle is reaching its crescendo now — as ardent support for human rights and increased freedom keeps spreading and growing, while equally ardent, tenacious opposition to change, equality, and social progress also keeps growing.

But these two ‘sides’ are not equal, or equally valid. One is dedicated to increased equality, sharing, compassion, and inclusiveness, while the other is all for continued INequality, selfishness, misogyny, and exclusivity — where some are ‘superior’ and can legally oppress others who are deemed ‘inferior.’

Both of these ‘sides’ represent a vast, potent social movement — but only one represents true progress or true civilization.

One ‘side’ is truly loving and civilized — and the other isn’t. Of course, it’s the side that isn’t civilized that I’m calling ‘human dinosaurs.’

Are we all embroiled in ’Armageddon’?

In this article’s headline, I referred to the ‘last stand’ of these human dinosaurs. What I mean is this: since the overall arc of human history ‘bends toward justice’ and freedom, as Martin Luther King famously said, those who resist, undermine, or outright destroy equality, justice, and the freedoms of ‘inferior others’ are all mightily and intentionally opposing the long arc of history.

Over the past two hundred years or so, it’s usually been ‘two steps forward, 1.999 steps back’ — but, over time, there has been some small, incremental progress. That is, until recently.

Starting around 2010, there’s been a huge upwelling of primitive racial and ethnic hatreds, and a vast contingent of ‘conservative,’ anti-progress groups and factions has risen to power, all across the world.

Clearly, they have felt empowered and energized, and are working hard and continuously to reverse many decades of gains on racial, ethnic, and equal rights fronts. This has been happening in many societies and nations, all around the world.

But it’s not just that they’ve felt ‘empowered.’ These folks feel like they’re fighting for their lives, and for their right to exist. And in a way, they are.

This historical period we’re in truly IS an existential moment for humanity, in that our most basic beliefs and human values are all ‘on trial’ now, and up for grabs.

In this sense, I believe we are living through something resembling ‘Armageddon’ — which I see as the ultimate ‘battle for the human soul.’ It’s the sustained, worldwide struggle over which human values and basic core principles will prevail, and guide humanity onward into the future.

The choice is clear, and getting clearer by the day: We are all tasked with choosing whether to support real equality, compassion, sharing, and freedom for all, OR side with inequality, racial and ethnic hatred, misogyny, and vast economic inequities. No ‘fence-sitting’ is even possible, anymore.

Trump and other autocratic despots rule… for now

But unbelievably (to me), many millions of people around the world have been making the second choice — especially recently. In the U.S. in particular, the rise of Donald Trump has acted as a fiery catalyst for all the haters, racists, misogynists, super-capitalists, and assorted other… antisocial dinosaurs.

Many millions of us have been deceived into thinking these past, horrific patterns and behaviors are somehow ‘better’ — so, if we can just reinstate all the awful social restrictions and UNfreedoms of the past, we’ll successfully ‘Make America Great Again’!

However, nothing could be further from the truth. Trump is a terrible human being — a total narcissist, compulsive liar, and uber-manipulative con man — and we’d do well to recall exactly what a ‘con man’ actually is.

The term is short for ‘confidence man,’ and it denotes someone who is SO brazen and breezily confident that he easily convinces others and ensnares them in his devious plans. A ‘confidence man’ both projects total confidence and inspires total, unthinking confidence in others — whether his ideas, plans, and proclamations hold any water or not, and whether he is trustworthy or not.

In the case of a highly effective con man like Trump, the truth doesn’t matter one bit; nor do morality, justice, or fairness. The only thing that matters is winning — as Trump often proclaims — and the way to always ‘win’ is to ensure that his ‘marks’ don’t stray from the herd, and absolutely don’t ever think for themselves or have moral qualms about his or their beliefs and actions.

When frantic, fearful ‘human dinosaurs’ REVOLT

But this article is not primarily a tirade against Trump. I only bring him up because he’s one of the most potent and obvious examples of a backward, oppositional ‘human dinosaur.’ In truth, he’s one of the primary global leaders — along with Putin, Viktor Orban, Kim Jong Un, and other autocrats — of our burgeoning anti-progress, pro-fascism ‘human dinosaur’ renaissance.

Clearly, millions of human dinosaurs are now engaged in the fight of their lives: their desperate fight to live as they want, unrestricted — and hate whomever they want, hurt whomever they want, and limit and oppress other human beings at will. They are fighting hard, now, to grab more power, keep more power for themselves — and steal power and freedom away from ‘lesser’ humans like dark-skinned folks, women, and non-Christians.

But in the end, it’s not going to work out well for them. It’s just not possible or plausible, in the long run.

Why? Because millions upon millions of people, all around the world, have tasted freedom and equality — and the longing for both is now ingrained in us, at least as a potent spark. As millions of American women (and sympathetic men) have learned — the hard way — there are plenty of vicious human dinosaurs around who have NO qualms at all about squashing women’s rights and bodily freedom.

But now the ‘pro-freedom’ and ‘pro-women’ progressive backlash is building — and over the past two years, many oppressive abortion laws have been challenged, and strident anti-abortion candidates have often been defeated.

It’s become quite obvious that, once people have tasted freedom and equality, it’s extremely difficult to take it all away and try (unsuccessfully) to stuff this genie back in its bottle.

Thus, the abhorrent actions of the antisocial dinosaurs have sparked a fierce populist progressive surge — and, in the end, their actions may work against them and push even more people toward ‘liberal,’ inclusive positions on social issues, especially women’s rights.

The bad news: our global struggle for equality and freedom is far from over

But here’s the bad news: right now, today, the oppressive, regressive forces of the antisocial dinosaurs are on a strong, sustained roll. They are still rising and gaining strength, all around the world, while the forces of democracy, freedom, and inclusivity are busy playing catch-up.

The antisocial dinosaurs have taken control of the media — or bullied the ‘liberal’ media into submission — and are in control in many red states, as well as our Supreme Court. Yes, the dinosaurs are still mounting their fierce counter-attack, and have achieved many small and large victories over the past decade.

In the short term, their sociopolitical power and ascendance seem almost guaranteed.

But, in the long view — these antisocial dinosaurs are merely mounting a desperate, violence-prone, Quixotic ‘last stand.’ Their views, morality (really, amorality), and hateful, oppressive attitudes are not welcome, anymore, in most modern societies — and are on the way out.

These antisocial ‘human dinosaurs’ may never truly go extinct, and may always be among us to some extent. But they are truly evolutionary dead ends.

With any luck, and a bit of grace, their numbers will soon start dwindling again, and they may again recede into the distant background where they belong.

They will not be missed.

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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.

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