“As for those anti-imperialists who don’t participate in this festival of xenophobia — and here I include myself — we have our own elitist consolation: we accept the tragedy of masses of gullible sheeple falling for cunning propaganda because having overcome it flatters our own intelligence. The more we condemn society’s stupidity, the smarter we feel in comparison.”
- Masses, Elites, and Rebels: The Theory of “Brainwashing” (2022)
Roderic Day, 2022-05-23
Absolutely critical reading, and really helps with any kind of outreach you may do. You aren’t going to convince your interlocutor most of the time, but others seeing it happen in front of them may be convinced over time. We aren’t immune to the issues we see in others, it’s just that our material conditions have aligned us against the status quo, and that perspective helps us see through its lies.