The powerful leverage of the minority

1/23/2018

Have you noticed that the doings of the minority determine the perspective of the majority?

Like a lever, the minority lifts the majority to a certain height from where everything on ground level looks the same and generalization becomes the order of the day.

Examples

In America

A few psychopaths committed mass murder – and forced the majority to believe that all Americans have mental disorders and therefore they should not own guns.
Two or three white police officers killed black Americans allegedly without reason – and lifted the majority to a height from where all white police officers look like racists.

In Europe

A few Muslims committed acts of terrorism – and lifted the majority to a height from where all people from Muslim countries are regarded potential terrorists.

In South Africa

A couple of white farmers continue to commit racial crimes – lifting the majority to a height from where all white farmers are seen as racists.
Some black criminals continue to target farmers, senior citizens, tourists, and even law-abiding people in their own communities. In the process they commit extremely cruel murders, lifting the majority to a height from where black people are seen by the West as barbarians.
A few Nigerians are pimps and drug dealers, lifting the majority to a height from where all Nigerians are seen as drug dealers and pimps.

This reminds me of the Law of the Lever

A lever is a mechanism by which a small force in combination with a large movement is converted into a small movement that moves a large load.

This principle was formulated by the Greek mathematician and physicist Archimedes. "Give me a foothold and I will move the earth," he told his compatriots.

I don’t think Archimedes realized that his formulation was not only applicable to objects, but also to human perspectives.

I declare that the Media is the foothold used by the minority to change the perspective of the majority. I do not exonerate the Media from blame, for we all know that the Media favors sensation and the majority of people enjoy the ride.

Until next time,

Martie

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16 Comments

William Holland link

1/23/2018 08:50:21 pm

It's an interesting phenomenon, Martie, and despite the fact that many minorities will be insulted by your statements, I believe them to be true.

Martie

1/24/2018 09:00:59 pm

Hi William,

It would be interesting to know what minorities would feel insulted by my belief that they have powerful leverage thanks to the Media.

Thank you for giving wings to my imagination, as I already see myself participating in an exciting debate. Take care, dear William!

Peg Cole link

1/23/2018 11:19:14 pm

I agree that the media tends to sensationalize things slanting them toward the negative rather reporting on the good. As you said, minorities (celebrities and individuals) are the ones that affect the perception of what's happening in the world.

Martie

1/24/2018 09:16:08 pm

Hi Peg,

You just reminded me of Lady Diana's leverage, and Elvis Presley's... and remember Twiggy? I have given only negative examples in my post, but minorities inspire negative as well as positive perspectives of the majority.

Take care, dear Peg!

Mike Friedman

1/24/2018 12:24:52 am

Well the media certainly is there to sale newspapers. There is plenty of bias around, it may be fueled by the media, but I doubt it originates there.

Martie

1/24/2018 09:25:33 pm

Hi Mike,

The Media is only a foothold enabling the minority to change the views of the majority. However, I am grateful for the Media for keeping us all informed, and, sadly, often misinformed depending on the bias of the journalist.

Have a good week, Mike!

Rolly A. Chabot link

1/24/2018 04:47:08 pm

Hi Marie...

You hit this one out of the park and this is a story which is playing out all over the world. We used to have a saying here..."The squeaky wheel gets the grease."
At one time snivelling was frowned upon as being immature while now it seems to be the norm. Once the door has been opened so much as a crack it now resembles the flood gates being open to near anything.

Hugs from Canada

Martie

1/24/2018 09:36:37 pm

Dear Rolly,

Just about an hour ago I told my grandchildren how things have changed since I was a teenager, and even more shocking - since my parents were teenagers. Things that were totally taboo are today the norm, acceptable, politically correct, and even punishable when frown upon. The changes were mostly inspired by the campaigns of minorities.

I wonder what more is going to change before 'the end of the world'?

Hugs,

Martie

paula

1/24/2018 05:17:28 pm

Martie...Hello friend! Haven't seen you in so long. Thanks for the piece you share with us today. We humans do have a tendency to just pile all people from one group into the same category. I agree this is a futile activity & limits our connections with others as a time when we all need one another!
Take care dear Martie and always remain your beautiful self! Hugs, Paula

Martie

1/24/2018 09:50:39 pm

Hi Paula! Good to see you!

I have compared this lumping of all together with the view we have when we find ourselves on a certain height. From the window of a plane flying miles above the ground everything on earth looks like dots and squares of greens. Via the media the minority lift us to a certain height where generalization is all one is able to do, unless one is part of another minority who stay on the fences, unbiased and objective.

I hope you are fine, dear Paula!

Angelia S. Phillips

1/25/2018 04:52:28 pm

Martie,

I love Rolly's "squeaky wheel" mention. Excellent correlation. :)

Martie

1/25/2018 05:22:22 pm

I, too, Angelia. Going to use it soon!

Maria link

1/26/2018 03:44:18 pm

Your writing and the ensuing comments make for great food for thought, dear Martie - late but well-meaning in my visit to your desk.

Martie

1/28/2018 06:54:36 pm

Dearest Mar,

Thanks for the encouraging comment. What I love about comments is that they encourage deep thoughts about the topic, and sometimes one gets another view on it - a view that was not 'visible' to the author.

Hugs to you ♥♥♥

Vicki

2/2/2018 09:21:31 pm

Dear Martie,

This is so true, and it seems to be human nature to go along with it. I doubt I would even recognise things in South Africa now - it was so different when I left.

it seems every day there are special interest groups wanting more for their corner and their believers. As Rolly says, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. and this is something people have learned. Humour has dropped by the wayside, and desperation and cruelty taken its place. Enter the brave new world!

Martie

2/6/2018 05:28:47 pm

Hi Vicki,

Of course, adults will try their best to silence loud-screaming babies. I don't think we are living in a new world. What is, was, and will be again. Thanks to global media we know today what's going on in every corner of the world, and that is why we get the impression that the Bad is more than before.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, dear Vicki!