Happy Thanksgiving. This is the time to gather friends and family, watch football or maybe it’s game night. Time to take a neighborhood stroll with the family after everyone overindulges. Was Thanksgiving really a communal feast with immigrant European colonizers and Native Americans is a debate of the past with the recent election. Buckle up those pilgrim shoes and prepare. Social media is full of tales of people uninvited, family members cut off, and financial support stopped. There will be households that have agreed not to discuss politics, or who have agreed to disagree. In the midst of it, because ultimately, we’re all n this together, be respectful; walk gently. This is war. It looks different because this is about information the Tofflers said in the 90’s, information is the next war.
In the 1970s, Alvin Toffler wrote the book Future Shock. I read the book in 8th grade for Mr Dickerson’s World Cultures Class. Over the next 20 years, I watched the hypothesis and predictions by this futurist come to pass. I was hooked, The Third Wave, PowerShift, all relevant. Jump to now, Alvin & Heidi Toffler’s book, War and Anti-War from 1993 reflects current events for me.
The phrase “Information is the next war” is attributed to futurist Alvin Toffler, who believed that in the future, the most crucial element in conflict would be the control and manipulation of information, signifying a shift from traditional warfare based on territory and military might to a new era where information dominance would be key to power, as outlined in his book “War and Anti-War.” Key points about this idea: “Third Wave” concept: Toffler’s “Third Wave” theory describes a societal shift from industrial to information-based economies, where information technology plays a pivotal role. Cyber warfare: This concept foreshadowed the rise of cyberattacks and information manipulation as a primary weapon in future conflicts. Propaganda and disinformation: Toffler warned about the potential for manipulating information to control populations and influence public opinion.
From the Google AI Overview
Propaganda and disinformation, here we are. Both sides, left and right, liberal and conservation, republican and democrat accuse each other of these tactics. Where is the truth? I recommend Ground News1. I have no affiliation, just a quest for truth in news. In my desire for detente, I’ve had several conversations, post election, with supporters of Donald Trump. While this does not a poll and anecdotes are not data, what stood out was the extent disinformation. I have written about some these things in recent posts. More to the point now, the messages and disinformation from the GOP candidate in this past election unleashed unrestrained hate. Beyond the rhetoric immediately following the election, there were the texts to African Americans in several states to report to plantation. The Klux Klux Klan – Trinity WhIte Knights of Kentucky distributed leave now or be deported flyers in two states. The viral social memes posted by incels, Your Body My Choice targeted hate towards women to name a few. When I asked about this avalanche of racism, hate and misogyny with these examples the response was, “That’s the MAGA Republicans!”
Parents do not want schools to expose their children to certain topics. Parents support efforts to have certain books banned from schools and pulled from library shelves. They don’t want these things normalized for their children. I understand those concerns and I was excited to ask, “Is Donald Trump a role model for your children with 34 felony convictions, a man found guilty of sexual abuse and deformation, a businessman settled a case with the Justice Department for Housing discrimination, a husband who had an affair with with his second wife while still married to his first, Has children with three women and just in the last week of campaigning talked about Arnold Palmer’s genitalia, simulated fellatio with a microphone and has profanity laced speeches?” The response was, I haven’t heard any of this; was it on the news? Followed by Harris is to liberal, she will harm the family. Another friend followed on the response by asking what policies of Harris’s would hard families, to which there was no answer. There was only belief, a strong belief that Harris is bad for the country.
Belief is always more powerful than fact. I don’t think that one or two conversations will change a belief in this political environment. I do think, maybe after a personal experience, the thoughts may resonate and maybe there is a shift. Seth Godin writes, “Better happens incrementally. The first steps aren’t dramatic, and in fact, might even be less effective than what came before. But small steps repeated again and again transform our culture when no one is looking.” I’m all in for the small steps; be respectful, walk gently, be armed with facts.
I’ve heard people ponder in the past, would they have been enslavers or abolitionists and more recently what would they have done in Nazi Germany. Well, this is living history and your chance. You can choose to step out and stay out of the fray or step up and be respectful, walk gently, be armed with facts and take a stand.
1How to find balanced reporting. I recommend Ground News. This app shows blindspots in the news for the left and right and the degree of factuality. If you’re looking for a gift, they’e currently offering 50% off for a yearly subscription,
Balancing on Unstable Surfaces 