Americans should lean into cultural revolution messiness because this is how it goes.
We believe we’re living in some sort of exceptional country, and we’re exceptional human beings. Not bound by the laws of human nature and how political change happens, and how cultural change happens.
There’s a reason when we look at the history of cultural revolutions that it’s messy
Lawn Signs Won’t Help
We can’t achieve a cultural revolution through lawn signs and cool protesting photos on social media. All that does is start fights that we’re surprised we’re in.
The shared space called the internet brought cultural problems to the forefront. It got Barack Obama elected. Perhaps the country wasn’t ready for a black president. Perhaps this is what white, evangelical cultural Christian billionaires are messaging: “Never again.” Pressing their heels on the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities.
The Internet created this national village before we were ready. There’s too much conflict because of it. It’s turned into one long argument with no debate moderator declaring the victor. It created a cold cultural battle that has now moved into a hot space.
Cultural Change Is Messy
It’s changing American citizens’ hearts and minds, and that must be done carefully. Because when you try to force people’s behavior, they don’t like it. Even when you think it’s morally right and they’re morally wrong. Forcing another person’s behavior starts conflict 100% of the time.
And no amount of lawn signs and no amount of gotcha moments are going to stop the conflict. It’s here, and we have to deal with it one way or another without inciting something.