That is about as vague as it gets. What did you study? Where did you do your observing? What experiences are you referring to?
Looking at the earlier post you were questioning, I see that you may have been reacting to my underlying snarkiness. What I was describing was the generally superficial way most people in America approach politics and characterize the opposition (whoever that may be). I've observed this as a general cultural trend which isn't exclusive to one side.
If you want an example of what I'm talking about, I can cite it from your very post above, where you wrote:
These people were taught to hate. These people were taught to discredit science and evidence. These people were taught to accept nonsense. They were taught by their elders, their peers, their religious leaders. When they got older their "education" was furthered by talking heads who were brought up the same way and share the same biases.
Sounds like quite a scathing criticism - almost to the point of calling them "defective human beings" (or, as Hillary put it, "deplorables"). You say "these people were taught to hate." Taught by whom? What, exactly, were they taught, and how do you know what they were taught? Were you there? Did you grow up in America and witness any of this during your lifetime?
I'm not necessarily saying that you're incorrect. I think there is a good deal of truth in what you say, but like many others in these discussions, you're only scratching the surface and not looking deeper to the root of the problem. This is why the problem doesn't really get solved.
There are people who are convinced aliens are real. They studied books on ufos. They observed lights in the sky. They experienced being taken aboard an alien ship and being probed.
None of that makes their claims real, valid, or meaningful.
Alien stories aren't really that meaningful to me anyway. People believe what they want to believe. I would say that's more an effect of fiction writers and film producers putting forth a plethora of space and alien stories.
I don't need threadbare excuses to know that Trump is a narcissistic pathological liar. That is evident from his own words and his own actions.
That's not the point. That narcissistic pathological liar was elected president in 2016, and many people still don't seem to have a clue as to why or how he was elected. They seem to struggle to make sense of what's happening in politics today. They'll blame the Russians. They'll blame Jefferson Davis. They'll blame Hitler. They'll look for any possible reason to explain what's happening - except they'll ignore what's happening in America.
What "sacred cows" of American are you suggesting that I avoid stepping on?
You personally? I don't know. But in the last post, you appeared to be deflecting, so it seemed as if you were trying to avoid the topic.
I say patriotism is not a religion because it has no god. If you disagree, please show the god that patriots worship.
Some might define god as a "higher power," and if anyone worships power or the symbols of power, even if it's secular and human power, then I think it would fit the criteria for a religion. If you want to split hairs over it, then feel free, although that would take us off topic. For the sake of argument, we can call it a "very strong belief" instead of "religion," but either way, my basic point still stands.
I also say the devoted adoration of Trump could well become a religion down the road - especially if someone kills him and makes him a martyr.
Maybe, although I think Trumpism has been more of a fad, kind of like bell bottoms.
