Living in a World Where Facts No Longer Matter???

Bi-fracated, meaning this is the world we presently find ourselves living in? Left vs. Right.  Black vs. White.  Men vs. Women.  Religion of faith vs. Religion of ideology.  A world of absolutes with little middle ground?  Like minded people only choosing to speak with like-minded people, in protective bubbles of isolation.  Wonder sometimes if we, as a society, have completely lost the ability to actually engage and debate one other with facts these days.  People no longer seem willing to talk with one another about the things that truly stand to have an impact on the world in which we live anymore.  We just talk at one another, past one another.  I had thought civil discourse was no longer possible in the divided state of America, but recent forums at the White House hosted by President Trump have given me hope that perhaps all is not lost?

Personally, I blame social media conditioning in large part for this bi-frication of America.  Social media is literally rewiring people's brains.  It's shortening our patience tendons and attention spans, such that we no longer have time for actual phone calls, meaningful face to face conversations or hand-written correspondence.  Social media consumes hours of our time as we mindlessly digest mostly useless information --kind of like the 'emotion' neutralizing pill in the move "Equilibrium", where modern-day social media tends to neutralize independent thought.  Social media fuels our desire to be heard and "Like[ed]", to BELONG.  Sadly, far too many of us are addicted to the dopamine hit of being heard, Liked, to the extent that the ability to listen seems rapidly on its way to becoming a lost art-form. 

Also have to think that perception is easier to sway --and hence people/populations are easier to influence and control-- in the on-line forum.  He who controls the content now controls the outcome? To live in a world where the facts no longer matter, where reality is malleable, fungible? Witness media outlets claiming to be purveyors of news, when the majority fail to cover major news stories that do not fit their ideological narrative and what they do cover is mostly opinion given under the guise of 'news'... I am left wondering when rational, logical, flesh and blood people are going to wake up, re-engage with hearts and minds and say enough already???? Especially where our children and their safety in our nation's schools is concerned.  At the end of the day passing new gun legislation won't guarantee our children will be safe.  Only hardening the soft targets of our schools will do this.  Have the gun legislation conversation, but in my opinion that is an entirely separate issue.  Focusing on the guns first takes the focus away from where it should be: 100% preventing another shooting from happening in the next 365 days.  Let's start by actually enforcing the laws we already have on the books and then hardening the soft targets of our children's schools. Then we can move on from here. Historically speaking, meaningful action seldom happens in like-minded bubbles of isolation. Meaningless --non-fact based mantras-- fueling an innate human need to belong, with little effort or thought being put into coloring outside some lines in order to find new solutions to real-world problems isn't going to fix what ails us as a nation and a society.  I challenge you to put down your mouse and engage in at least one meaningful, real-world conversation today.  Baby steps.  Maybe together we can change this world of ours for the better one 'un-click' at a time.  And when you do happen click, why not use your clicks to contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives with real-world concrete solutions that will help to move the discussion --on keeping our children safe in their schools-- forward into meaningful and timely action.

3/14/2018  Logic and reason prevailed today, as the U.S. House of Representatives was able to pass the "Stop School Violence Act" by a vote of 407 for the bill and 10 against.  This bill will immediately allow school districts across the nation to begin taking the steps necessary to harden the soft targets of our schools.  The bill had 75 member co-sponsors, demonstrating the broad support for taking immediate action, without the unnecessary delay of including gun legislation in this initial bill.  Congress will likely have the gun-control legislation debate, but it will thankfully be conducted as separate issue, thereby allowing for immediate meaningful action that will help to keep our students safe in their school environments.  Hoping the U.S. Senate will now follow suit in order to make this bill into law! Here are "Stop School Violence Act" bill details.