Saving Face

{link » The Voice Of Moderation: Form Counts, Too}

“The moderate middle voted for Barack Obama because he made them feel good about themselves. Do not underestimate the attachment people have to how a candidate makes them feel. People are heavily invested in this man. They want him to succeed because if he fails, it’s a reflection on them.

I told a friend last night that it’s not unlike an abused girlfriend. She doesn’t stay with the guy because he’s so great. She stays with him because leaving him would mean everyone else was right and more importantly, she was wrong. She can’t admit that. So she stays and sings his praises and tells people ‘you just don’t understand him.’ That will be the press. That will be the moderate middle. They are too far down the path with him. They can’t come back and save any sort of face if they wanted to.” [emphasis added]
 — By Dr. Melissa Clouthier

I think Melissa is on to something fundamental in human nature. In my experience, the two most difficult things for people to say are ‘I'm sorry’ and ‘I was wrong’. In some cultures, saving face is more important than saving lives.

Perhaps it's best not to rub the "hope and change" crowd's noses in the shit-storm raining down on us all. Forgoing the satisfaction of pointing out the obvious to them is worth the possibility they'll silently recognize the consequences of their former misguided actions.

Nah.

 h/t Theo

Post #655 Saving Face