Much of the time, what I see is not facts or alternative facts, it’s widely different interpretations of the same set of data. For example statistical analysis of police stops doesn’t really support the BLM assertions that racist cops are harassing, beating, or shooting Blacks at wildly inflated levels compared to other races. That said, the visceral anger directed toward police is real, not manufactured, and the issue deserves critical scrutiny to determine what, exactly is causing that intense anger. (I have some ideas, but that’s for another conversation).
What we have to get a lot better at isn’t slapping statistics in people’s faces and undermine their legitimate anger, or marching down highways chanting “pigs in a blanket, fry ’em like bacon”, it’s looking past the statistics and searching for the underlying causes of legitimate discontent.
Two sides screaming at each other does nothing to solve our problems.
If we can find some fellow travelers, Neil, we might be able to stake out a new, and far more reasoned middle ground.
