BC AFTER TRUMP
Saved by @Christi22657596

The, “how do we fix this” is perhaps the most important question we face as a country. To the extent that it can be fixed, it starts with framing and language used to describe the problem/solution. The “deprogramming” and “brainwashed” verbiage has to be eliminated. 1/

 No one is receptive to finding “common ground” when the starting point of the person who claims to desire common ground is telling them they’ve been brainwashed, and that they need to be “deprogrammed”. 2/
This plays into the “Totalitarian” narrative that Tucker Carlson is propagating, even going so far as using the “don’t believe your own eyes” to reinforce the narrative. 3/
Of course, this is exactly what occurred during Trump’s presidency. Basically, it’s another attempt to confuse and distract with moral/false equivalency. 4/ https://t.co/3ewhEnJkkD
In the past, the Right attempted to excuse Trump’s pathological dishonesty with allegations of the Left lying: if everyone is lying, then no one is lying……because lying is normalized. 5/https://t.co/wVkFSbgg1y
With Carlson’s characterization of the Left being “Totalitarian”, it’s essentially an attempt to frame it (“it” being the Right’s fascism) as: “If everyone is authoritarian, then no one is authoritarian”….because authoritarianism will become normalized. 6/https://t.co/pdAHxZu1G1
Since the Right no longer believes it can compete in a democratic process, this creates self-granted permission to win by “any means necessary” in the newly framed, zero-sum, fascism-vs-totalitarian world where the Right clearly feels more competent. 7/https://t.co/ABU24A4TAL
In my observation, people drawn to conservative ideology tend to have less cognitive flexibility, and struggle with or are less comfortable dealing with abstraction, nuance, "gray areas", or with grasping/accepting multiple complex explanations for a complicated problem. 8/
In previous writings, I’ve described this predisposition to think in absolute, either/or terms as having a “binary orientation”. 9/https://t.co/wknXjlMP9W
People who are binary-oriented tend to see the world through the lens of polarity (polarization), and therefore are either unable or unwilling to see the “gray areas” of life or issues.

This makes them less willing to compromise or change their position on issues. 10/
Couple this with the fact that they exist in a completely different informational ecosystem that not only constantly promotes binary, “Us-vs-Them” narratives, but also....11/
....provides positive reinforcement through bias-confirming narratives that affirms that they’re correct/justified in what they believe, and promotes moral superiority for believing it (which has parallels to the white supremacist themes). 12/
Essentially, these narratives put the Right’s political beliefs beyond reapproach because they are morally reinforced. This tactic works especially well with the highly religious because it aligns with their embrace/defense of their faith, which is also beyond reapproach. 13/
The soothing affirmation of their beliefs simultaneously exists alongside a persecution/victimhood narrative that implies that any disagreement, challenge, or attempt to enforce societal norms, or even codified laws, is an attempt to marginalize, “cancel”, or “replace” them. 14/
When Tucker Carlson repeatedly tells his audience to:

“Remember that when they come for you, and they will....”

This causes even the slightest challenge, disagreement, or criticism to immediately trigger their “binary orientation”…..

15/
….which not only places the person engaging them (even if it’s a loved one) into an Us-vs-Them, ally-or-enemy, context…

....but it also inhibits their ability to process moderate, compromising solutions to difficult societal issues and problems. 16/
As a result, "background checks" are cognitively equated with abolishing the 2nd Amendment....

...prohibiting hate speech or insurrectional incitements are equated to silencing “conservative” viewpoints, etc.

It’s all or nothing.

17/
Circling back to the question of how to “fix this” on a societal level, it would appear that it needs to be “treated” as if it were an individual problem because….18/
….many of the same psychological processes and cognitive distortions/dysfunction that play out on the societal stage, are often what are identified and worked on in an individual one-on-one therapy session. 19/
In a one-on-one context, when the client is having relationship issues, the work can focus on creating awareness of and improving and/or mitigating cognitive processes, defense mechanisms, conflict resolution skills, & seeing the conflict from their loved one's perspective. 20/
The client can then practice implementing these skills into their personal life and relationships.

But in the case of the political climate, even if there is progress/growth/healing on an individual level,…

21/
…as soon as they engage the political informational ecosystem, their pathologies are affirmed/validated, & they're told that anyone who tells them otherwise (family/friend…“therapist”) is trying to manipulate/control them.

It’s a very difficult (impossible?) situation to fix.
Other relevant threads: 23/ https://t.co/wId97OT74Q
Other relevant threads: https://t.co/B2toaIwrLY
https://t.co/fL5620cOwe
https://t.co/72xCn5oyjD
https://t.co/0PVU6Dd4BY
https://t.co/U8itielh0k
https://t.co/mLqmFMRSg2

More from Nick Carmody JD, MS Psych

Nick Carmody JD, MS Psych
Nick Carmody JD, MS Ps...
@Nick_Carmody
Trump's call to @GaSecofState highlights the intersection of "Trickle Down Pathology", the emasculinization of the rule of law, and a gaslighting technique I describe as "the manipulation of the interaction timeline".

To review: 1)Trump attempted to extort election fraud....1/


2) @GaSecofState, perhaps as a result of wanting to protect himself...as well as American Democracy...learned his lesson after taking a phone call from @LindseyGrahamSC, refused to take Trump's first 18 phone calls (attempts to commit voter fraud). 2/

3) Finally, relenting, and taking Trump's call...... Raffensperger recorded the call and publicized it only after Trump attacked him and the process.


Predictably, Trump and the Right Wing Echo Chamber immediately went into gaslighting mode in an attempt to "manipulate the interaction timeline". Here is a breakdown of how it works: 4/


....5/....https://t.co/0BBwgMNWQD
POLITICS
Nick Carmody JD, MS Psych
Nick Carmody JD, MS Ps...
@Nick_Carmody
Observations about Covid, vaccine effectiveness, media portrayals/hypocrisy, and even Jan 6th to show the dangerous effect “trickle down irrationality”:

When disinformation causes otherwise irrational behavior to appear rational.

Let's unpack.....1/

In the video above, @rubinreport uses Johnathon Isaac’s response about being unvaccinated to correctly encourage people to
- avoid summarily demonizing people
- have a measured, good-faith interpretation of other people's potentially good-faith “rational” motivations/actions
2/

I agree. Jonathon Isaac was very impressive in that interview.

We won’t make progress as a society by engaging in the same behavior that helped create the problem. And : 3/


Yet, just 12 seconds into the show, Rubin’s characterization of efforts to contain covid as attempts to “control”/tyrannize not only demonizes medical professionals (“elites”), but it’s also an implicit refusal to acknowledge ANY good faith motivation to protect public health: 4/

“[Covid is] going to be this constant cudgel that they can always use to control us and lock us down and put more rules on us, and all of the *stuff* that you all get since they’re always going to do that….. 5/
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Nick Carmody JD, MS Psych
Nick Carmody JD, MS Ps...
@Nick_Carmody
How did the Right come to hate this country so much?

Remember when (justifiably) criticizing the United States, even over minor flaws/errors, would cause the Right to seethe with contempt over your lack of Patriotism?

Yet now,….1/

...the Right claims the country is a cesspool run by corrupt, deep-state conmen who have exploited the system to get rich.....

....and that none of this country's institutions (FBI/Intelligence/democracy/etc.) can be trusted, and therefore must be torn down. 2/

We are currently seeing this in real time as Trump challenges the election in the courts. The danger being exposed during all of this is that the Right’s contempt isn’t limited to just the “liberal judges” whose professional integrity can’t be trusted because they’re liberal….3/

...the contempt also extends to Republican state office holders and a Trump-appointed appellate court judge/panel who wrote an opinion, that not only eviscerated Trump’s legal claims, but emphasized the danger that Trump and the conspiratorial Right poses to our democracy. 4/

Article III of the Constitution empowers the judicial branch to finds facts/settle disputes. When half the country believes that every “liberal” judge, and any Republican judge that rules against Trump is corrupt and can’t be trusted, then this country is headed for disaster. 5/
UNITED STATES
Nick Carmody JD, MS Psych
Nick Carmody JD, MS Ps...
@Nick_Carmody
Trump's speech was another incitement for violence. The Right views the military as an impediment against another insurrection/potential coup. This is why Trump & the Echo Chamber have been coordinating an assault on the legitimacy/stability of the military. It's important...1/ https://t.co/Lvs4a0jKl3


....to remember that 53 of the 500 people arrested for the Jan. 6th insurrection were former/current military. The Right knows the military has a potential extremist problem, except that rather than attempt to understand and solve the problem,...2/


...Trump, and the Right Wing Media Echo Chamber are attempting to exacerbate and inflame the problem.

The Echo Chamber knows that FOX is on nearly every TV in and around military bases, so when Ted Cruz talks about the military being emasculated....3/


......and when Matt Gaetz and J.D. Vance talk about the military losing


...5/....https://t.co/23iwQikwgH
ALL
Nick Carmody JD, MS Psych
Nick Carmody JD, MS Ps...
@Nick_Carmody
The problem lies with "self-governed people" who'd rather be entertained than educated, or competently led.

Details/competency are boring, and expertise causes people to feel ignorant. So they choose reality TV stars over competent leaders, or actual mental health professionals.


https://t.co/uMufgDNlaO
CATEGORY

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Jonathan Ware
Jonathan Ware
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So when it first appeared in Normandy, the Sherman Firefly and it's meaty 17 pounder represented an ideal combo of reliable chassis, great gun and devastating firepower right?

Ummm...

Truth is a bit more complex. /1
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Deliveries of Firefly to units only commenced in April 1944,
just a few weeks before Overlord & left minimal time for familiarisation.

Armoured Regiments mostly utilised Fireflies on a basis of 1 per troop of 4 tanks. /2


Finally each armoured regiment troop had access to integral, meaty, anti-tank firepower capable of dealing serious damage to any German AFV likely to be encountered. /3


The dual purpose 75mm gun was quite capable of laying down a reasonable HE shell or AP round for dealing with Panzer III or IV.

Firefly's 17 Pounder had.... problems with HE, but excelled at tank killing. So Tigers and Panthers would need to be wary. /4


Firefly's design history dated back to March 1943 when the General Staff published "Policy on Tanks" which effectively stated the majority of tanks should have a good HE weapon and...

[See image below] /5
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SK
SK
@sk_diary1
Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal #temple -Gunaseelam,Near Trichy,TN #Thread

Gunaseela Mahatmyam,a chapter of Bhavishyottara Purana describes greatness of this place.

Venkatachlapathi of Tirumala Tirupati appeared b4 Gunaseela Rishi here,so Gunaseelam is known as Ten(South)Tirupati


Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal is in a standing posture with 4 arms holding sankha & chakra in the upper hands.The lower right hand is in abhaya pose,blessing devotees &left hand is in kati hasta,resting on waist.

A sceptre(senkkol)rests on right shoulder,with which this murti is believed to cure people affected by mental illness.These patient stay here for a period-48 days& participate in poojas&most of them get relieved of their problems.There is a temple run Mental Rehabilitation center

#storytimethread -As per Sthala Puranam,existence of this temple is due to efforts of Gunaseela Rishi, a disciple of Thalpiya Maharishi.
Thalpiya Maharishi along with his disciple Gunaseela Rishi once went to Himalayas.On his way back, Gunaseela Rishi stayed back at Tirupathi.


He was so wanted to have darshan of Venkatachalapathy in Gunaseelam near his asharam & bless the devotees.

He came back, bathed in the Cauvery,took blessing from his guru &undertook severe penance here in his ashram in Gunaseelam.
RELIGION
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@GunduHuDuGa
#SatiSavitri #RealLifeExperiences #BharatDarshana

Bharat Darshana publishes a small monthly magazine which has some very interesting puranic anecdotes and snippets.

When I picked up this month's magazine, I was intrigued by a story which I want to share as below

1/

This is a real-life incident as narrated by Prof. Krishna Bihari Pandey titled "Sati Savitri"

Sati Savitri is a well known puranic figure from Srimad DeviBhagwatham and Mahabharatha as one of those who fought with Yama to save her husband.

2/

This story is a modern real-life experience which mimics the puranic account in it's own unique way.

The story occurs in 1975 with Prof and his wife in Delhi with professor working as a researcher in university. Prof's family is in Allahabad in a large joint family

3/

Once Prof gets to know that his mother is not keeping well. He goes to his native and brings his mother. With dedicated care of his wife, his mother recovers quite remarkably and regains full stamina and strength

Mother-in-law & Daughter-in-law go out for shopping frequently

4/

Life's going smooth until one day when they receive a telegram that Prof's father is not keeping well.

His mother is distressed about the situation and requests her son to take her to the native. Prof is a little angry due to frequent travels and turns it down

5/
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Jaya_Upadhyaya
Jaya_Upadhyaya
@Jayalko1
SRI SWETHA VINAYAGAR, THIRUVALANCHUZHI, KUMBAKONAM
(TN)
#bharatmandir

While main deity is Shiva as Kapartheeswarar, the kshetram is famous for Ganesha, known as Swetha/Vellai Vinayagar (white Vinayak)

During samudra manthan, Vasuki snake (used as rope) started spewing venom.


Unable to bear the intense heat, Devas rushed to Siva. He told them that this was because the task was started without getting Ganesha’s approval.
So the Devas created a Ganesha murti from white sea foam and worshipped it.
It was later taken by Indra to Indralok.
@GunduHuDuGa


But once Indra had to come to Earth to pray to Shiva to seek relief from a curse inflicted on him. So he brought the murti of Ganesha with him. When he came here, he wanted to take bath before puja. So he gave the murti to a boy to hold for sometime. The boy was actually Shiva.


He kept the murti down and vanished. Indra could not lift it again and a divine voice told him to let Vinayagar stay there and visit every Ganesh Chaturthi to pray.
Since Vinayagar is made of foam, no abhishekam is done here. Only punugu is applied n camphor powder is sprinkled
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Anu Satheesh
Anu Satheesh
@AnuSatheesh5
Ameda Temple
Ernakulam, Kerala 🚩
#keralatemples

Ameda Ksetram is located in the banks of Vembanad Lake. Temple is very unique and Powerful Sarpa Kavu.
Parashurama did Prathishta here. Vilakku which was lighted by Parasurama is still seen inside the temple.


The oil from this lamp is given to bhakthas for recovering from illness.

Sthala puranam says that, Once, when Parashurama was travelling through Kerala, he reached this place. As it was evening, he stepped into the Lake for Sandhya Vandanam
At that Sapthamathrukkal 👇


(Brahmini, maheshwari, kowmari, vaishnavi, varahi, indirani and chamundi) were travelling there on a tortoise through the water. The tortoise was unable to move, because the Water had made its way for Parashurama. The place where the tortoise became Still came to be known as 👇


Aama Ni Nidayam' ( Aama means tortoise) and later become ‘Ameda’. Parashurama came to know about the journey of Sapthamathrukkal. Thus, he did Prathishta for the Sapthamathrukkal here.
7 forms of Aadi Parashakthi are Sapthamathrukkal. Veerabhadra and Ganesha have Sannidhi here.


The main Garbhagriham in the temple is the Sapthamathrukkal. There are Sannidhi to Nagas, Nagayakshi and Vishnu too. Sarparadhana or snake worship is done here. Naga Panchami is famous here. Those who have Naga Dosham come here and get relieved of their Doshas.
🕉🙏🕉
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