What NOT To Normalize!
Updated: 4 days ago
Normalization of authoritarian rhetoric and digital surveillance abuses are significant concerns in 2026, as they can erode democratic values and individual rights. It's crucial to resist accepting these trends as standard practice in society (inspired by: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/05/we-must-not-normalize-digital-surveillance-abuses-effs-new-guide-underlines). You may be horrified by what a subculture is attempting to normalize. We must hold the line on what we allow, tolerate so that we don’t fall into the trap of normalizing things that are harmful, dangerous, cruel, divisive.
What are some things NOT to normalize in 2026 and going forward? Here are just a few:
diversity is dangerous
making it your business when it’s none of your business
tax money collected from the population shouldn’t be used for the people’s benefit; it should be used as discretionary income for government leaders
the sitting president offering up two cities in California to Iran to destroy: “While speaking about the Iran war on Oct. 5, U.S. President Donald Trump said, ‘They [Iran] can take out a city. Let 'em take out Los Angeles, let 'em take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay and it's going to be over with very soon’” (https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/fact-check-trump-actually-said-002100294.html).
“our” religion is the only right one
banning books is good because if I and my cult don’t read them, no one should read them
once girls turn 22, they are no longer datable
only men should be “leaders”
my political party is like my football team; I’m loyal no matter what
it’s okay to ignore the Constitution and Amendments if the “leaders” want to bend the laws
democratic socialism is dangerous
planning public executions to be televised
speaking and behaving as though women, girls, LGBTQ+ people are less worthy
even though the sitting president, secretary of defense, SCOTUS judicial members, and others who have sexually assaulted others, I’ll still vote for them / support them
refusing to allow student loans for majors the federal governmental regimes doesn’t like
cutting support, food, housing, education, medical care for all people is okay
religion in public schools and government building / institutions
rewriting history so that it fits a narrative I’m more comfortable with
bullying our “allies and enemies” alike into submission
SCOTUS serving for life
very elderly people serving as president, congress members, mayors, other federal and state governmental positions is okay
the 1% getting the significant tax beaks is great for the economy
tariffs imposed make an economy stronger
pedophiles, rapists, cheaters, corrupt fraudsters as a country’s “leaders”
there are only two genders
bowing down to millionaires and billionaires
making sure the education system ‘dumbs down’ children so the government makes non-thinking people easier to control
taking away voting rights
taking away women’s rights
eroding democratic values
the “male loneliness epidemic”
“crazy cat ladies” stereotype for unmarried women
eroding the teachings of Jesus under the control of “Christian” nationalists
desensitizing outrage, putting down peaceful protests and protesters
complicity in rights violations
digital surveillance abuses that are violations of human rights, the Fourth Amendment
the sitting president destroying property he doesn’t own
lack of accountability, “leadership” is unchecked
congress that rarely works ~ taxation without representation
authoritarian and fascist rhetoric
unchecked AI
cruelty, misogyny, raw patriarchy
pushing the ‘trad wife’ narrative
starting wars shows strength
laws that only apply to the populous who aren’t millionaires and billionaires, but don’t apply to the “leadership”
that it’s not a woman’s individual choice to have or not have children; it's my government's and my religion's choice
minimum wage hasn’t changed since July 24, 2009
that restaurants don’t pay their employees a living wage and make them depend on arbitrary tips from customers
paying a living wage isn’t important ~ tell people to just work harder and get a 2nd or 3rd job
that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are “entitlements” that the government should eliminate
that ICE is doing a great service to the country
that people who are working on getting citizenship and are contributing to the economy are being kidnapped and deported without due process
that elementary schools through colleges/universities indoctrinate people, but religions don't
that our country is the best (nationalism), that patriots support the governmental "leaders" no matter what they say and do
that people who immigrate to our country are ruining the country, taking all of the jobs, getting free services from the government
that heavy and constant surveillance catches criminals ~ who needs privacy?
that clean and plentiful water is always going to be available for humans, animals, and plants
that data centers for AI are wonderful and everyone should accept them in their communities and in space too
that the natural beauty of national parks, protected lands and wildlife isn’t as important that getting resources from them
that once you’re over 65, you don’t really have a purpose
that young people need to wait their turn to serve, lead, contribute
I could go on and on; I’m sure you can think of many more. No matter how often these things are touted as “normal, the way things need to be”, THEY ARE NOT NORMAL to those of us who envision a more peaceful, diverse, caring, loving, respectful, spiritual, connected world and who care for the environment, the clean air, the oceans and potable clean water, for animals and plant life, for humanity.
What are things you think should NOT be normalized? What are things you think NEED to be normalized? Please share your thoughts, insights, and suggestions by either commenting below this post if you are reading this on social media, or, if you are reading this through your email subscription, please share, by emailing me, at MissyDuncanPhdofficial@gmail.com . I invite you to subscribe to my blog at www.missyduncanphdofficial.com . My YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvddqOlfJbS0ypODwbmQ_JA . Although my channel is just hatched and is not quite a fledgling, I will keep feeding it and encourage it to take flight. I just need to get through my father’s Celebration of Life service in a couple of weeks and then I’ll be back to creating.
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