Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Commander's Column for January 2021 - Cognitive Dissonance, a Psychological Explanation to the Woke Attacks on Confederate History and Heritage

 “We feel that our cause is just and holy; we protest solemnly in the face of mankind that we desire peace at any sacrifice save that of honor and independence; we seek no conquest, no aggrandizement, no concession of any kind from the States with which we were lately confederated; all we ask is to be let alone; that those who never held power over us shall not now attempt our subjugation by arms.” (Jefferson Davis, April 29, 1961 address to the Confederate Congress in Montgomery)  Our Confederate ancestors sought the preservation of the constitutional republic with limited central federal government as our founding fathers had intended.  They seceded from the “states with whom (they) were (formerly) confederated” for similar causes which we observe today, that a progressive regional/sectional power grab threatened to indefinitely relegate their party and the Southern states to a political irrelevance and an impotence in a minority position, destroying their very way of life.  They fought for their independence only in defense of their families and homeland. The enlightened progressives of course deny this historical truth and pin the Southern states secession and the War for Southern Independence solely on the Southerners desire to defend and perpetuate the institition of slavery. Period.  

It has long astounded me how angry the woke progressives have demonstrably appeared while vandalizing historic Confederate monuments.  Graffiti messages have been spray painted on these demonizing Confederate soldiers depicted as indefensibly fighting to perpetuate the institution of slavery. Many statues were irreparably damaged and many removed from public display to appease the anarchist mobs.  While previous generations recognized the Confederate soldiers as having fought honorably and admirably for the cause of constitutional liberty and state’s rights and in defense of their homeland, these learned individuals disregard first source evidence providing the truth of the historic record.  They misconstrue and contort the impetus for secession and that of the War of Northern Aggression.  Lincoln himself in his inaugural address and correspondence stated he had no right nor inclination to interfere with the institution of slavery but would enforce the collection of tariff revenue at his ports using the full force of his military.  He desired to preserve the Union to further his vision of a centralized federalist empire with the Southern agrarian indentured populace providing raw goods and cash from protective import tariffs to the Northern industrialists and in turn providing a captive market for their manufactured goods.  It’s in the public record. 

So, is it an impassioned demonstration of white guilt which spurs these woke snowflakes to desecrate these monuments?  I was listening to the radio before the holidays and heard an explanation for a psychological condition called cognitive dissonance and I believe this well explains this phenomena.   “The term cognitive dissonance is used to describe the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. People tend to seek consistency in their attitudes and perceptions, so this conflict causes feelings of unease or discomfort.  One sign related to dissonance includes doing things because of social pressure even if it wasn't something you wanted to do.  Sometimes learning new information can lead to feelings of cognitive dissonance.  People sometimes deal with this either by finding ways to justify their behaviors or findings ways to discredit or ignore new information.  Cognitive dissonance can often have a powerful influence on our behaviors and actions. It doesn't just influence how you feel—it also motivates you to take action to reduce feelings of discomfort.”  (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-cognitive-dissonance-2795012)  Like assuming a herd mentality and justifying the destruction of public property and historic works of art as morally reprehensible in their woke view.  This also explains the difficulty the woke progressives have in appreciating and respecting conflicting opinions and beliefs.  This is why it is near impossible to change the minds of those who have been indoctrinated in government public schools to believe “the history of this heroic struggle … written by the enemy… our youth … trained by Northern school teachers … learn(ed) from Northern school books their version of the war… impressed by all the influences of history and education to regard our gallant dead as traitors, our maimed veterans as fit objects for derision.  The conqueror's policy is to divide the conquered into factions and stir up animosity among them.”  (letter of General Patrick Cleburne, January 2, 1864)  It is why the liberals know what is best for you and want to tell you what car to drive, what food to eat, what doctor you can see, what school you can attend, and what history you can learn and understand.  “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history. Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood. Who controls the past controls the future.” (George Orwell)

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