by Jack Schmidt

WHAT IS GASLIGHTING? 

The term originated in the systematic psychological manipulation of a woman by her husband in Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 stage play Gas Light.   In the story the husband attempts to convince his wife and others that she is insane by manipulating small elements of her environment and insisting that she is mistaken, remembering things incorrectly, or delusional when she points out these changes 

Today we are living in a perpetual state of gaslighting. What we are being told by the media is at odds with what we are seeing with our own eyes…. e.g. those were not riots, they were peaceful protests.  And when we question what we are being told, we are vilified as racist or bigots or just plain crazy. You’re neither a racist nor crazy. You’re being gaslighted.

Example 1:  New York State has twice as many deaths from Covid-19 than any other state, and New York has accounted for one fifth of all Covid-19 deaths, but we are told that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has handled the pandemic better than any other governor.  But if we support policies of Governors whose states had only a fraction of the infections and deaths as New York, we’re called anti-science and want people to die.  So, we ask, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted. 

Example 2:  We see the major problem destroying many inner-cities is all kinds of crime;  but we are told it is not crime and that the police are the problem.  We are told we must defund the police and remove law enforcement from crime-riddled cities to make them safer.  But if we advocate for more policing in cities, we are accused of being white supremacists and racists. So, we ask, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

Example 3.  The United States of America accepts more immigrants than any other country in the world. The vast majority are “people of color”.  These immigrants are enjoying freedom and economic opportunity not available to them in their country of origin.  Yet we are told that the United States is the most racist and oppressive country on the planet and if we disagree, we are called racist and xenophobic. So we ask, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

Example 4.  Capitalist countries are the most prosperous countries in the world.  The standard of living is highest in capitalist countries. We see more poor people move up the economic ladder to the middle and even the wealthy class through their effort and ability in capitalist countries.  But we are told capitalism is an oppressive system designed to keep people down. So, we ask, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted. 

Example 5.  Communist countries killed over 100 million people in the 20th century.  Communist countries strip their citizens of basic human rights, dictate every aspect of their lives, treat their citizens as slaves, and drive their economies into the ground.  But we are told that Communism is the fairest, most equitable, freest, and most prosperous economic system in the world. So, we ask, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

Example 6.  The most egregious example of gaslighting is the concept of “white fragility”. You spend your life trying to be a good person, trying to treat people fairly and with respect. You disavow racism and bigotry in all its forms. You judge people solely on the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. You don’t discriminate based on race or ethnicity. But you are told you are a racist, not because of something you did or said, but solely because of the color of your skin. You know instinctively that charging someone with racism because of their skin color is itself racist. You know that you are not racist, so you defend yourself and your character.  When you do, you are told that your defense is proof of your racism. So, we ask, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.

Gaslighting has become one of the most pervasive and destructive tactics in American politics. It is the exact opposite of what our political system was meant to be. It deals in lies and psychological coercion, not truth and intellectual discourse. If you ever ask yourself if you’re crazy, you are not. Crazy people aren’t sane enough to ask themselves if they’re crazy. So, trust yourself, believe what’s in your heart. Trust your eyes over what you are told. Never listen to the people who tell you that you are crazy, because you are not, you’re being gaslighted.

Sophocles said: "What people believe prevails over the truth." And that's what the media are trying to exploit.  They are trying to get you to believe something that is not true.

I did not write the above and I am not sure who did.  I sent it to you because you are smart enough to understand what is being inflicted on you daily.  I do not care about your political affiliation.  Just think through what you are being told.  Question everything.  Question why you are being told whatever, by whomever.  Question their motives. Question who benefits. Question if there is a hidden agenda behind the propaganda.  Then do your own research, and use some of your own critical thinking skills to get to the truth.  Listen with your heart as well as your mind.   

Sadly, 95% of the masses don't even know that they are being gaslighted.  Now YOU do!