The 3 Stages of a Society in Decline
Live with certainty in an uncertain world. Sign up for the FREE LiveReady bi-monthly newsletter and get the insights and tools to be a protector.
When I was young, my family lived in Memphis, TN. At about ten years old, I turned on the news and saw a KKK march—everyone in full costume—through downtown Memphis. I remember asking my father why such people were allowed to march and spew hate, and he explained to me that no matter how much you disagree with someone’s beliefs, it’s vital that we all defend their right to have and express those beliefs. He explained that if they can’t express themselves, no one can, and that particular freedom should be held sacred above all.
Since that time, I have always lived by the notion that I may disagree with what you are saying, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Which is why it’s so tragic to see the state of our society. Our society is being defined by political division, intolerance, and outright hatred of those who have different points of view.
Yesterday’s assassination of Charlie Kirk is the most recent, most egregious, and most heart wrenching example of how this kind of intolerance leads inevitably to violence. While the media reports that the motive still isn’t known, we all know what this was about: a political assassination because some people disagreed with Kirk’s point of view and wanted him silenced.
What is far worse than even the atrocity of this incident is the celebration of his murder by so many in our society. Much like the celebration of the murder of Brian Thompson, the United Healthcare CEO, or the multiple assassination attempts on Donald Trump, or the fire-bombing of PA governor Josh Shapiro’s house, to name just a few examples.
The cancer that is metastasizing in our society is the atrocious notion that such victims “had it coming.” Those who embrace this ideology are every bit as responsible as the assassin who pulled the trigger. They are the enablers. They grant justification and notoriety to the would-be killer. They groom the next deranged individual into a belief system where the killer will be hailed as a hero for taking down a villain.
Having spent my life studying human violence and those who commit it, I’ve come to understand a simple truth: Violence is never random. It is a process often as observable and predictable as boiling water.
People don’t just snap. And most who commit violence are not doing so simply because they are mentally ill. And no act of targeted violence against a school, festival, business leader, or political figure is random; it is the result of a cancerous process that, like night following day, has inexorably led us to where we are now.
This cancer has been eating away at our society for decades, but in recent years, has begun to metastasize through 3 discernable stages:
Stage 1: Cancel Culture
Every aspect of cancel culture is toxic. It is an attack focused on the deliberate destruction of the reputation and income of a target—generally a target who has been identified by an ideological group that specifically opposes the target’s beliefs. It is a social assassination attempt. And like assassins, terrorists, and mass killers, people or groups who engage in this behavior believe their actions are justified, and that the ends justify the means. They believe the target deserves every level of harm that may result.
Organized cancel culture is more than a lynch mob; it is a modern-day witch burning. When a person or organization is perceived as having a viewpoint that differs from the mob’s, they deserve to be cancelled—destroyed.
Stage 2: Lawfare
Should cancellation fail to achieve its destructive purpose, the second stage of metastasis is to leverage whatever legal or political pressure is available to isolate and destroy the target. Frivolous lawsuits and unfounded allegations of wrongdoing are the norm in this stage.
We’ve seen this in the “show me the man, and I’ll show you the crime” targeting of politicians over the past few years, or for example, how elected school boards have been sued by activist groups for the sole purpose of delaying and disrupting policy changes they don’t agree with, even when those lawsuits have no chance of success.
Stage 3: Violence
As the cancer progresses, particularly when Stage 1 and 2 fail to destroy the target, violence becomes the natural and predictable mutation.
Physical destruction of the target becomes perceived as the only or best solution. And when the consequences of such heinous acts is notoriety, or glorification and celebration by the mob, there will be no end of copycats in sight.
So how do you treat such a cancer, especially one that has spread so far? Is an ever-escalating path of violence inevitable at this point? Charlie Kirk, actually, gave us the answer.
I watched Kirk numerous times on social media, and what struck me most was that he seemed most interested in having conversations with people who had different points of view. While he was very strong in his beliefs on subjects, never once did I see him treat anyone disrespectfully.
Charlie Kirk embodied what we desperately need to reset in our society: courage, civility and mutual respect. It’s okay to have different opinions, to have different belief systems, and to still respect each other. Not everyone you disagree with is a fascist. And you are not a hero if you join the witch-burning mob.
Real heroes stand against this kind of behavior, and in Charlie’s own words: “When people stop talking, that's when you get violence.”
Protect your future, yourself, and your people
Your security is not just an expense; it’s an investment in your leadership, your people, and your future. Don’t wait for the next wake-up call—be ready today.
Get started on your own plan:
Read LiveReady: A Guide to Protecting Yourself in an Uncertain World for guidance on conducting your own vulnerability assessment.
Contact us here: Reach out to discuss staff training, vulnerability assessments, or executive training.