As a physical scientist, I have learned that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If you push on something, it will ‘push back’. Of course, the exact outcome will not only depend on the forces applied, but also the properties of the materials involved in the interaction.
When observing people, I have learned that this principle holds – but in a unique way.
You can ‘push’ – and that soft squishy bit that our human behaviour is wrapped up in (tolerance, good manners, politeness and so on) will absorb a lot of this ‘push energy’. On absorbing it, it may – over time – slowly dissipate this energy, if no further ‘push’ is applied. No real reaction occurs.
If there are many more ‘pushes’, or if there comes a particularly big ‘push’, the energy built up in all this soft squishy stuff will be greater than the material can absorb: there will be a counter-reaction. Because so much of this energy has been stored in that squishy stuff – without a chance to dissipate – this energy will be released, magnifying the ‘opposite reaction’. In other words, if you push people long and far enough, they will strike back – and not just for the last push, but for all of the ‘little pushes’ and the last one put together.
This is often referred to as ‘backlash’ – and while this is decidedly not a constructive way of resolving the underlying issues, it does not change the reality of how the human psyche reacts. Singly – but especially in groups – humans will only allow themselves to be pushed past some point. Then they strike back – with interest, so to speak.
Where am I going with this?
It’s a not-too-subtle observation that forcing people to accept policies which elevate one minority above the rest of society will, in no uncertain terms, necessarily result in deep resentment of this minority. If taken too far, it may, eventually, lead to very real rejection of this minority by the rest of society.
It does not matter whether this privileged group is identified on the basis or race, language, religion, wealth or anything else. Once it is separated from the mainstream and elevated above it (in a real or perceived manner), given special privileges, the very perception of this inequity is what will cause resentment – and perhaps direct action – against this group. That is simply human nature.
For decades now, Islamists (and I do not mean Muslims in general, but rather only those who treat Islam as both a religion and a political ideology which demands world conquest) have demanded a separation between all Muslims (and here, it is the Islamists who frame the definition to include all Muslims, whether they like it or not) and the rest of society. Not only have they demanded a separation, but they have also demanded special privilages, ones not enjoyed by any religious or political groups.
There is nothing wrong with this demand.
Just about every religious group thinks theirs is the only ‘right’ faith. Just about every political movement holds the view that theirs is the best way to run the world. If these things were not true, it would make for pretty pathetic religions and pretty ineffective political movements.
The problem came when our lawmakers satisfied their demands and gave this ‘identified’ group of people privileges not enjoyed by the rest of society.
From such small things as demanding separate swim times in public pools – where only members of their faith may swim – to demanding and receiving legal recognition of their moral customs which are contrary to our legal and moral standards. Not only have they succeeded in securing these (and many more) special privileges for only members of their religious minority (whether or not they partake of the political side of the movement), they are now demanding that members of the rest of society should not be allowed to criticize them: from how they behave to the tenets of their religious faith!
That means that not only is this group separated from the rest of society and privileged in its treatment, this group is now succeeding in forcing our lawmakers to outlaw the very principles on which our society was built….and without which our society cannot exist.
Again, it is not wrong for them to demand this. The fault lies in satisfying this demand.
And since satisfying more and more such demands appears to be happening at a frighteningly fast pace, the rest of society feels that their way of life is being increasingly threatened… that slowly, but surely, their very existence is being outlawed.
Push…after push…after push…
I fear that the ‘soft squishy’ bits of our society have stored up about as much ‘push’ as they can absorb….
So, what happens now? Are we yet at a point when the backlash is about to occur? This may just be my Cassandra complex, but I can’t help saying it anyway. Unless we figure out a way of dealing with the pressures created by unreasonable accommodations of non-integrating minorities soon, we will face social unrest the likes of which I do not want to imagine.
I just hope it is not too late!!!
Xanthippa's Chamberpot 