Americans Are Accidental Extremists
November 19th, 2009 by John Creighton in Dispatches
Tags: Accidental Extremists, Civility
Whom do you talk to who asks you to consider points of view different than your own?
What do you read that challenges you to consider public issues from a new perspective?
What do you watch or listen to that makes you face up to your preconceived views?
Most Americans, if we are honest with ourselves, would answer: no one, not much and not much.
We live in echo chambers. We read, watch, listen and talk to people who think pretty much like we do. When we live in like minded cocoons, our views become more radical. Outlandish ideas start to sound normal. That’s what is happening in America. We didn’t mean for it to happen. But, we Americans are becoming accidental extremists.
How have we Americans become accidental extremists?
We choose media that reinforces and amplifies our preconceived views. It is accepted practice for conservatives to watch Fox News and liberals to watch MSNBC. Cable stations gladly and gratuitously fan the flames of our most visceral biases.
We intentionally choose to listen only to people who affirm our views. Bill Bishop, who has detailed the fragmenting of America more meticulously than anyone, points out in an article for Slate voters go out of their way not to hear what upsets their existing beliefs. He reports that few Republicans listen to Democratic Presidents give State of the Union Addresses. Few Democrats tuned in to listen to former President Bush.
Our selective habits extend to radio and new media. Locally, my liberal friends tend to listen to “Colorado’s Progressive Talk” while conservatives listen to Rush Limbaugh. Political blogs attract people who shout, “Hear, hear,” rather than people who are seeking to engage in critical thinking.
Political activists use technology to target messages to niche audiences. Single women in their thirties hear one message. Couples in their sixties hear another. Both messages come from the same candidate or advocacy group. Now, we all hear only what we want to hear.
Accidental extremism is not fueled by selective media use alone. The forces driving a wedge through American society run much deeper. We are, without intention, organizing ourselves into enclaves.
Bill Bishop documents in his book The Big Sort drastic changes in American’s living patterns. Forty years ago we often lived near people with different life experiences and political views. Today, there’s a good chance that our neighbors have similar life experiences and a world view just like ours.
Our schools are more segregated today than they were in the late 1960s or early 1970s. According to the Harvard Civil Rights Project, the average black attends a school that is two-thirds black; the average Hispanic attends a school that is seventy percent minority, and the average white attends a school that is eighty percent white.
Social media tools allow us to find like minded souls beyond the boundaries of our local communities. People with radical views are no longer isolated by geography. Once a lone voice in their community, they can now link with others who encourage their view. Extremists and moderates alike can find people to talk to with whom they agree and avoid uncomfortable conflicts.
Our nation is becoming more diverse. Yet, we spend our time with people who are just like us.
What happens when people live in enclaves? People want to fit in. Psychologists suggest the best way to fit in is to adopt a position that is somewhere near the middle of the group. As we sort ourselves into like minded communities, the middle begins to drift left or right. If we live in a conservative community, our views are likely to drift right. If we’re part of a liberal community, our views will drift left.
We like to point fingers at our politicians and lament how polarized American politics has become. But, the truth is, our politicians are nothing more than a reflection of the communities they serve. Modern American extremism did not begin in the halls of Congress. The seeds are sown in our neighborhoods.
Bad things happen when a nation is divided by tribes. Take a glance across the globe or through history. It’s not hard to find examples of the negative consequences when a nation becomes fragmented.
We can stem the tide of accidental extremism. We must begin by looking in the mirror. Each of us must take up the challenge of critical thinking, considering different points of view, and seeking to find common ground. These are the practices that gave birth to our nation. They are the practices that will sustain us in the future.
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Picture Credits: Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em by Flickr user twobitme.
2 Responses to “Americans Are Accidental Extremists”
John, you assert that voluntary self-sorting leads to extremism. However, you never define extremism or give examples of how a lot of communities have become “extreme” in some way. Take Longmont as an example; are we extremely conservative or extremely liberal? As I see the City Council, we have three conservatives (Baum, Santos, Witt), three liberals (Levison, Hansen, McCoy) and a moderate (Sammoury). Also, neither “extremism” nor “moderation” is necessarily good. As Goldwater said, “I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!” For a more authoritative voice, let us turn to Holy Scripture: “But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth. But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.” (Rev 3:15-16).
I mis-pasted the Scripture reference. Here it is, corrected: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold, nor hot. I would thou wert cold, or hot. But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.
I apologize for the error.