People want to be winners.
The ISIS recruiting message directed at the Western world exploits these two human motivations. It is very effective. Westerners, including young Americans are joining ISIS or becoming domestic ISIS sympathizers in unprecedented numbers.
There are a number of reasons for this. Most of those stem from the individual backgrounds and considerations. But there is one commonality that I think plays a role, and for some people a very important role. The USA brand is diminished. It is being intentionally diminished. Maybe it is irretrievably diminished. The recent celebration of 50 years after Selma gives us a stark evidence of this.
Compare this:
With this:
Tribes have symbols, banners, and physical means for identification. These symbols include everything from a Hoosiers jersey, to the Crips and Bloods gang colors. These symbols are proudly displayed by members of the tribe. There are no USA tribe symbols in the 2015 photo. There are many in the 1965 photo. What has changed?
I think the Howard Zinn-inspired "blame America first" message is having an effect. For many of us, the effect is easily overcome with knowledge and beliefs in who we are. For some others, the effect is profound. In some quarters, we have prohibited the display of the Stars and Stripes believing it to be "exclusionary" or "controversial". That notion is absolutely nuts. We are destroying our national unity in favor of smaller and isolated tribes centered around such things as race, political beliefs, religion and even the environment. The tribes are not in a shooting war, but we certainly are in a verbal pushing and shoving match. Many of us snap at the other tribes at the slightest provocation. In some cases we will use a demonstrable untruth or false flag to coalesce into gangs or tribes.
Enter the ISIS tribe. ISIS has a fertile field in which to plant its seeds.
The ISIS recruiting message directed at the Western world exploits these two human motivations. It is very effective. Westerners, including young Americans are joining ISIS or becoming domestic ISIS sympathizers in unprecedented numbers.
There are a number of reasons for this. Most of those stem from the individual backgrounds and considerations. But there is one commonality that I think plays a role, and for some people a very important role. The USA brand is diminished. It is being intentionally diminished. Maybe it is irretrievably diminished. The recent celebration of 50 years after Selma gives us a stark evidence of this.
Compare this:
With this:
Tribes have symbols, banners, and physical means for identification. These symbols include everything from a Hoosiers jersey, to the Crips and Bloods gang colors. These symbols are proudly displayed by members of the tribe. There are no USA tribe symbols in the 2015 photo. There are many in the 1965 photo. What has changed?
I think the Howard Zinn-inspired "blame America first" message is having an effect. For many of us, the effect is easily overcome with knowledge and beliefs in who we are. For some others, the effect is profound. In some quarters, we have prohibited the display of the Stars and Stripes believing it to be "exclusionary" or "controversial". That notion is absolutely nuts. We are destroying our national unity in favor of smaller and isolated tribes centered around such things as race, political beliefs, religion and even the environment. The tribes are not in a shooting war, but we certainly are in a verbal pushing and shoving match. Many of us snap at the other tribes at the slightest provocation. In some cases we will use a demonstrable untruth or false flag to coalesce into gangs or tribes.
Enter the ISIS tribe. ISIS has a fertile field in which to plant its seeds.
Last edited: