To feed the troll or not... ehh screw it.. Whoa. Yeah, there was nothing in the parent comment that warranted my defensive response. Whoops. *shrugs* I am seriously looking for critique though. You don't have to agree with me but I want to know where my thinking is wrong. I wrote this expecting some feel good feedback but to also take some hits and will be giving a modified version of the essay to a friend and a few family members that seemed to have gone off the rails recently - and most of it falls in line with calls for uprising and such crap being spread across some platforms. At least that is the sense I get. If you have something substantial I can take it. At least then I might now how others react to me in my own echo chambers.

The Nazis. They need no introduction and you know that. At this point though it is more a meme than having actually been there (for obvious reasons).

But to your point, I really should update the essay to change that word because it is not what I intended to say. As it came to mind I was thinking of racial and national supremacists in all forms (that actually act on their beliefs on full display) and that specific word was meant to refer to a more non-state source rather than being external in nature - one that is comfortable working within the the bowels today's digital world. I blew it. What would you suggest is a better term?

The Wedge - Doesn't Matter What 'side' You Are On.

Bad foreign actors and elitist supremacist groups are and have been running social media propaganda campaigns for many years now. People might (not?) be surprised to know that the Nazis as well as Russian, Iranian, and Chinese state actors that are running these cyberwar campaigns are not solely cheering on for Blue or Red. They are for neither team. Or rather they are playing for both teams at the same time - and this is intentional. They understood that many people today are in self-validating echo chambers of digital information and they use that to our disadvantage. By mass distributing these inflammatory digital misinformation streams, with an army of millions of fake personas and accounts (as well as plenty of real accounts of true Americans repeating these points), disguised as hyper-partisans on both side of the isle, they have succeeded in convincing 50% of America that the other 50% is evil and out to get them. Doesn't matter which 'side' you are on.

“He who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Be careful what you allow yourself to believe and more importantly be careful of the reasons why you believe it. Doesn't matter what 'side' you are on.

It’s one thing not to trust the government - I generally don't — but it’s another thing to say the shadowy global government is a bunch of satanic child molesters hellbent on tracking everyone on the planet with digital ink tattoos and so far they have covered up every piece of evidence of such plots. "The numbers don't add up" indeed... Doesn't matter what 'side' you are on.

The stand against government tyranny is commendable. Myself, however, I also stand against what I feel is the spiritual tyranny in the name of religious liberty. I cannot think of a worse form of tyranny than a worldview that forces you to have to hate other people. I can throw the word sheeple around just like everyone else. God loves all. Tyranny is tyranny. Doesn't matter what 'side' you are on.

It doesn't matter which side you are on. If you feel the need to tell other people how they MUST behave (AND actually want your government to ENFORCE it) then you are, knowingly or otherwise, part of the wedge being driven down the center of our country and the freedom it stands for. Hell, even me writing this essay adds to that wedge effect, unfortunately.

If you want to discuss a specific issue or controversy, we can do that. We might very well disagree and it could even get heated but the gist is above - I will not allow myself to fall prey to the propaganda that qanon and other bad actors are selling. I love my country. I love my friends and family. I think most people on this planet are good decent human beings. Across the globe. Red, blue, or otherwise. Doesn't matter what 'side' you are on.

My hope is that you hear my thoughts and maybe agree with at least a point or two. The common ground is where we start to retake our liberties and our country. We must unite the country or it will be lost to extremists on the other side. Doesn't matter what 'side' you are on.