“let me help you”
"Imagine you’re a normal person.
The year is 2016.
Rightly or wrongly, you believe most of what you see in the media.
You believe polls are broadly reflective of public opinion.
You believe doctors and scientists are trustworthy and independent.
You’re a decent, reasonable person who follows the rules and trusts authority. - Imagine your shock then, when Brexit, which you were assured won’t happen because it’s a fringe movement led by racists for racists, happens. The polls, which widely predicted it wouldn’t happen were completely wrong...“Oh well” you say, “these things happen”.
- Imagine that soon after Donald Trump is running for President. You are told by your favourite media publications that he is going to lose. Some experts say his opponent has a 99% chance of winning...And now, the racist monster they told you would never get near the White House is the leader of the free world...“It was the Russians,” they tell you.
...Again, you ask “How could this happen?” and again the media has the answer: racism. “Your country is racist”, they tell you. If you’re white, this seems strange to you. Other than a handful of idiots, you’ve never met a racist.
- But the evidence is right there on your TV screen. Imagine your horror as a gay black actor is assaulted by MAGA hat-wearing thugs who racially abuse him and put a noose around his neck. He cries while talking about it:
- Imagine your outrage as you see news reports of a bunch of MAGA hat-wearing kids from a religious school contemptuously confront a native America elder. Reza Aslan tells you the kid has a “punchable face” and while you abhor violence, it’s hard to disagree...Much here, read all!!
