Opposing Lies, Changing Society

SOMEWHERE I saw a sign that said: "Normal Isn't Coming Back, But Jesus Is"...OK....sure.... Well, in the first place, "normal" never comes back, because like society generally, it, normal, is constantly changing. Then too, Jesus isn't "coming back", because, in the hearts and minds of millions, he is already here, and always has been. Two false statements; needless mournful lament, and needless joyful hope. The sign's meaning of "normal" is "pre-pandemic", and probably pre civil rights, pre secular humanism, and pre New Deal, conservative norms and traditions all. Both false messages included on the sign reflect a white Christian conservative viewpoint. This means opposition to abortion rights and social programs, opposition to critical, factual American history, support of guns and gun owner's rights, strict voting requirements,teh insinuation of Christian values into government, neo-liberal trickle down economics, social and economic Darwinism, and Trumpism to name a few. (To those awaiting the imminent return of Christ in a fiery chariot with sword not olive branch, to rapture the saved into heaven, good luck with that.) The term "white evangelical christian conservative" honestly, accurately, and relevantly describes a readily identifiable mainstream American demographic plurality, its importance being, among many other things, its overwhelming support of Trump, over eighty percent, according to all polls. This support of Trump, many people believe, is the single most reprehensible characteristic of this demographic. Arguably, deeply embedded within white Christian conservativism there are so many reprehensible sub groups, ideoplogies, policies, and people that, on the whole, white Christian conservatism is extremely harmful to society. The Republican party, in its present state, can be described with reasonable accuracy as the "white Christian conservative" party, and arguabely can be described as detrimental to the United States and the world, and as the msot harmful and dangerous organization in human history, as Noam Chomsky claims. Obviously, inarguably, indisputably the KKK and its ideology not only falls squarely within white Christian conservatism, the organization itself requuires that it does, and is a main pillar of white Christian conservatism and racism. Many highly questionable arguably harmful beliefs are deeply embedded within white Christian conservative ideology, such as: denial of climate change, opposition to vaccinations and masking, opposition to the welfae state and government intervention in the economy on behalf of the poor, but not on behalf of the wealthy, belief in social Darwinistic racial relations, Christianity in government, uncontrolled gun owner's rights, and opposition to women's reproductive rights, among others. Fortunately there exist counter balancing forces to these malignant ideologies, including progressive Christian denominations, Christian liberalism, democratic socialism, the environmental movement, the pro choice movement, and Black Lives Matter, which, contrary to standard false right wing slander, is neither violent nor advocates for anarchy, but rather, advoctes racial equality within a framework of government support for racial equality. The direct link between American racism and American Christian conservatism is extant and strong. History clearly proves this, as do present day realities. We cannot change history. We can, however, change society.