Hashtags followed, transforming complex political tension into simplified identity markers that rewarded allegiance over reflection.
Traditional media hesitated, cautious about verification, while alternative outlets and influencers filled the gap with certainty and emotion.
This divide between institutional restraint and social immediacy is where modern political myths are born.
The story thrived because it offered moral clarity. Heroes and villains were clearly defined, roles assigned instantly, consequences implied dramatically.
Complexity had no place here. Complexity slows sharing. Outrage accelerates it.
For Omar’s supporters, the narrative symbolized vulnerability under attack, a warning about the consequences of hostile rhetoric.
For Kennedy’s supporters, it symbolized resistance against what they view as emotional manipulation and politicized victimhood.
Each side experienced the same story as confirmation of opposite truths, reinforcing the sense that compromise itself is dangerous.
Congress, in this telling, ceased to be a legislative body and became a battlefield of identities, emotions, and symbolic power.
In today’s political environment, belief often precedes evidence. Emotion outruns confirmation. Reaction replaces reflection. Continue reading…