Making sense of America’s newest Guild… Again (Part 1) “What Even Is This Guild?”

Today we begin a 5‑part series based on my book Making Sense of America’s Newest Guild… Again: What I Discovered in My Search for Answers. This is a book I wrote after diving into the deep end of the swamp that we call our political, cultural, and emotional awakening.

Let’s begin this series with a short story. This is no ordinary story… okay, it is, but here we go.

One day, a gentleman walked into the city library.

He approached the librarian and asked, “Excuse me. Do you have any books here on conspiracy theories?”

The librarian smiled and replied, “Why yes, we do. They are right behind you.”

The man jumped in both excitement and surprise, screamed, and then shouted, “I knew it!”

I told you it was a short story.

What was the moral of this story? Librarians can have a sense of humor too.Seriously, though. The moral was that the man had already been primed to believe something, and in this he had a predetermined mindset about that something. That explains many people in our society today—yes, in America today.

Many people are no longer thinking, they are just emotionally reacting as instructed. Many people are no longer researching; they are just parroting. Many people are no longer listening, they are attacking.

As I wrote in that book, “Without due diligence and independent research, you only know what you were told to know.”

Remember, if one can control what you are allowed or able to learn—that is, what you “know”—then they can control what you believe, which will control how you act; they will control you.

This new guild is a group; it's a label, it's a badge, it's a brand, it's a banner, it's a target, and the narrative of the day has divided us into one of three categories with this: Proud to wear it; terrified to admit it; or extreme, divisive, prejudiced, fear, and hatred for it.

And what is that guild? What is that label that can cause so much fear, anger, hate, and well…foolishness?

MAGA.

Now, before you react with praise or threats to cancel my podcast or lambaste my book… take a deep breath. Both my book and this podcast series are not about defending MAGA, nor are they about vilifying MAGA; they are about understanding this new guild of MAGA.

“extreme,” “terrorist,” “white supremacist,” “threat to democracy,” “fascist,” “xenophobic,” “sexist,” “homophobic,” “deplorable,” “racist,” etc.?“

As I state in my book, these are just a few of the terms I have heard and read (even directed toward me just for asking questions)” about MAGA.

But what are each one of these words? They are labels. Labels are shortcuts to save time and energy and to save us from having to actually think or research or talk or debate. Labels can be preconceived lies we have tricked ourselves into believing to avoid any uncomfortableness.

As I write in my book, “Most of what we know, we were told to know.”

And the question is, who told you to know what you think you know? Did you research it? Did you verify it? Did you truly discover it? Or did you just accept it?

• Do you like your freedom?

• Do you like your liberty?

• Do you like the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of [your] happiness?

• Do you like your country?

• Do you value the Constitution?

• Do you believe in individual rights? Personal responsibility?

• Do you believe in the truth, even when it is uncomfortable?

Because if you answered “yes” to any of those questions… congratulations, you have found some common ground with millions of other Americans who you think you completely disagree with—in some cases, who you were conditioned to vehemently hate.

Values are important. Values help us stand firm for our convictions. And although some values may differ, they are not always the problem. Sometimes the problem is simply our perception.