We always hear a lot about the vices of political extremism, but we urgently need to talk about the benefits. I wish that good-natured teasing was mine, wouldn’t I? It was kindly stolen from an old sketch by comedian John Cleese.
The problem of extremism and fanaticism is very similar to the problem of vices in general. We hear all the bad things about this problem, but that’s not what attracts people. People are attracted because they like something that sucks. Sometimes too good.
An extremist is anyone who believes in radical and extreme measures to solve social problems. This obviously creates an atmosphere of persecution, intolerance and disrespect for the personal freedoms of those who think otherwise. It doesn’t solve anything either.
Just as no one becomes addicted to drugs because of the harm they cause, no one joins these toxic groups to destroy democracy and destroy the social fabric.
As John Cleese so well explained, the great thing about extremism is that it makes you feel good because it makes you an enemy. With them comes a morally and socially acceptable excuse for you to pour out the worst in your soul, signaling virtue.
The University of Gothenburg, Sweden classifies the current stage of political polarization as “toxic polarization”. It is different from other moments and movements.
Polarization is toxic when people are in a group not because they think they are the best, but because they think they are the best at defeating the enemy group.
The enemy represents all the evil of mankind. By analogy, people begin to think that the group itself is good. Then they can do anything, even act exactly like the group they are criticizing.
“If you feel a lot of anger and resentment and therefore like to treat people badly, then you can pretend that you are doing this only because your enemies are very bad people. And if not for them, you would naturally be kind and polite. and in any case rational. all the time,” the comedian says in a 1987 sketch.
The most important thing about extremism is the list of political enemies it gives you. They are targets you can attack whenever you want, with no respect for human dignity or civility, if you please. And do not worry, there will be no consequences.
Since this all seems very theoretical, I’ll move on to the most important one, which is the list of your enemies. You choose which groups you are most happy to humiliate in order to decide which group you belong to. Decided to upgrade to today’s policy.
If you are progressive, or rather progressive, you can analyze the list of enemies released by the luloaffective sect. You will be able to ruthlessly beat the white elite, conservatives, evangelicals, the traditional family, those who supported the “coup” of 2016, liberals, the press and moderates.
If you are conservative or against the PT, you can analyze the list of enemies published by the Bolsonarist sect. You will be able to ruthlessly beat the “establishment”, the STF, the left, the minorities, the lakradors, the liberals, the press and the moderates.
Just choose from a list of enemies that you can be aggressive, nasty, cruel, and cowardly towards, and still have a sincere feeling that it’s morally justified.
Faced with an enemy liberated by a group, one can say any absurdity, commit injustice, defame, mistreat, trample, and still believe that he is a fighter for the common good, social justice, or a good citizen.
Best of all, the extremist never has to admit to himself that he is a mean person, ignorant and arrogant at the same time, sometimes paranoid and always disgusting. It is pleasure and delight.
Obviously, extremism will not bring improvements in politics, solutions for society, progress for humanity. He’s not talking about that. The object is the enjoyment of the wicked and the wicked, covered in the mantle of moral justification. As Aldous Huxley said, this is the greatest psychological luxury.
