The Meetup.com platform has decided to take sides on an issue. They are promoting a #resist campaign. Today I received a mass e-mail, which featured a text loop, above the persistent "#resist" slogan. In the box, as the colors change, the additional slogans appear as follows: "for democracy," "for
education," "for women's rights," "for sustainability," "for refugees,"
"for healthcare," "for equality," "for human rights." Despite their insistence (quoted below) that they normally don't take sides on issues, by adding all of the additional slogans they are showing their hand. The full text of their mass e-mail follows:
"Meetup has always served as an organizing platform for a wide range of political views, welcoming everyone from the Howard Deaniacs to the Tea Party. Meetup will always welcome people with different beliefs.
But after the recent executive order aimed to block people on the
basis of nationality and religion, a line was crossed. At a time when core democratic ideals feel under attack, we feel a duty to spark more civic participation.
Last week, we created 1,000+ #Resist Meetup Groups to act as local hubs for actions on behalf of democracy, equality, human rights, social justice, and sustainability. Already 50,000+ people have joined.
These #Resist Meetups are open to anyone who want to create a bright future that's rich with opportunity and freedom for all.
Meetup exists to connect people so they create opportunity and make the world they want. We hope members take these Meetups forward to be powerful together."
The new slogan of the anti-Trump movement is apparently #resist, or #resistance. What perhaps few people realize is that it is the same mantra that the so-called Palestinians have used for years. They generated a false victimhood narrative and garnered sympathy from Leftists that portrayed Israel as a villainous victimizer. It isn't surprising to me that such a slogan has become the focal point for anti-Trump protests. In order for a slogan to work, it must be generally recognizable and palatable. This slogan meets both standards.
My prediction is that we will also begin to see more Kefiyahs (checkered Arab headscarves associated with the anti-Israel, Palestinian "resistance" movement). Indeed, if one was paying attention to any of the major protests across the U.S. over the past several years, one would see that the Kefiyah was present at many of them, along with the Guy Fawkes mask (now associated with Occupy Wall Street).
The slogans, symbols and images that have accompanied Leftist protests over the past several years will likely continue to gain prominence, as Soros-funded organizations and platforms such as Meetup.com corral people to "the cause." So, what is the cause? One might be inclined to believe that it is simply an anti-Trump movement that is focused on a single issue. This is not the case. Indeed, it is merely the latest incarnation of what has been termed "underdogma," by Michael Prell. Specifically, Leftists are inspired to advocate on behalf of whomever/whatever they see as an underdog. Quite simply, power is bad and one who has less power is considered to be disadvantaged. Hence, the Leftist must always take up the cause of the underdog; despite whether such an individual or group can factually be said to fit into such a category.
My advice to the most vulnerable class of citizens, the youth: don't get caught up in the current zeitgeist. It's a trap. It will push you firmly into the Left's orbit. Once there, you will have a hard time seeing facts for what they are and you will be most inclined to allow the narrative to focus your attention and your actions.
Meetup.com itself is showing how facts don't matter as much as the narrative that the "recent executive order aimed to block people on the basis of nationality and religion." Nationality, perhaps. Religion, not quite. The president has to the authority to limit who enters the country and I will leave it to the experts and commentators to cite the specific laws that grant him such authority (exercised by previous presidents; ideologically left, right and center).
Meetup.com is a great force for organizing. This is the strength of Leftists everywhere: organizing on behalf of the purported underdog(s). Unfortunately, Meetup.com has decided to jump on the bandwagon, as it makes its turn in a Leftward direction.
"Meetup has always served as an organizing platform for a wide range of political views, welcoming everyone from the Howard Deaniacs to the Tea Party. Meetup will always welcome people with different beliefs.
But after the recent executive order aimed to block people on the
basis of nationality and religion, a line was crossed. At a time when core democratic ideals feel under attack, we feel a duty to spark more civic participation.
Last week, we created 1,000+ #Resist Meetup Groups to act as local hubs for actions on behalf of democracy, equality, human rights, social justice, and sustainability. Already 50,000+ people have joined.
These #Resist Meetups are open to anyone who want to create a bright future that's rich with opportunity and freedom for all.
Meetup exists to connect people so they create opportunity and make the world they want. We hope members take these Meetups forward to be powerful together."
The new slogan of the anti-Trump movement is apparently #resist, or #resistance. What perhaps few people realize is that it is the same mantra that the so-called Palestinians have used for years. They generated a false victimhood narrative and garnered sympathy from Leftists that portrayed Israel as a villainous victimizer. It isn't surprising to me that such a slogan has become the focal point for anti-Trump protests. In order for a slogan to work, it must be generally recognizable and palatable. This slogan meets both standards.
My prediction is that we will also begin to see more Kefiyahs (checkered Arab headscarves associated with the anti-Israel, Palestinian "resistance" movement). Indeed, if one was paying attention to any of the major protests across the U.S. over the past several years, one would see that the Kefiyah was present at many of them, along with the Guy Fawkes mask (now associated with Occupy Wall Street).
The slogans, symbols and images that have accompanied Leftist protests over the past several years will likely continue to gain prominence, as Soros-funded organizations and platforms such as Meetup.com corral people to "the cause." So, what is the cause? One might be inclined to believe that it is simply an anti-Trump movement that is focused on a single issue. This is not the case. Indeed, it is merely the latest incarnation of what has been termed "underdogma," by Michael Prell. Specifically, Leftists are inspired to advocate on behalf of whomever/whatever they see as an underdog. Quite simply, power is bad and one who has less power is considered to be disadvantaged. Hence, the Leftist must always take up the cause of the underdog; despite whether such an individual or group can factually be said to fit into such a category.
My advice to the most vulnerable class of citizens, the youth: don't get caught up in the current zeitgeist. It's a trap. It will push you firmly into the Left's orbit. Once there, you will have a hard time seeing facts for what they are and you will be most inclined to allow the narrative to focus your attention and your actions.
Meetup.com itself is showing how facts don't matter as much as the narrative that the "recent executive order aimed to block people on the basis of nationality and religion." Nationality, perhaps. Religion, not quite. The president has to the authority to limit who enters the country and I will leave it to the experts and commentators to cite the specific laws that grant him such authority (exercised by previous presidents; ideologically left, right and center).
Meetup.com is a great force for organizing. This is the strength of Leftists everywhere: organizing on behalf of the purported underdog(s). Unfortunately, Meetup.com has decided to jump on the bandwagon, as it makes its turn in a Leftward direction.
