We may not be in a hot war, but we are in the middle of a leftist-declared cultural war as the presidential campaign continues.  The left owns the big guns of the mainstream media, entertainment, and education.  It also has its brownshirts, in the form of Antifa and Black Lives Matter (BLM), terrorizing blue cities and providing the appropriate propaganda images to scare susceptible people living in red states.  Righting the ship that is America requires a new paradigm of thinking and tactics because of these facts.

The old rules of decorum that conservatives used to follow in everyday relationships with liberal friends involved certain level of restraint in the name of getting along.  That can no longer be the case.  Insurgency in the form of rhetorical pushback is now required whenever the opportunity lends itself.  It's called "owning the downside."

Primarily a business term, owning the downside means willingly embracing any negative consequences associated with a plan or action.  Anyone can take credit when things go well, but it is the rare person who accepts responsibility when a plan or action does not go as hoped.  Calling out the truth and being ready to take the heat for it is owning the downside.

The importance of standing for America and labeling lies and deception during this presidential campaign cannot be overstated.  As informed patriots, it is our duty to point out how polls are being used to shape public opinion, rather than reflecting it.  We are responsible for educating those who are unaware of Joe Biden's declining mental acuity, as well as detailing the danger that mail-in voting represents to the integrity of our election process.  As patriotic Americans, it falls upon us to shine the light for others on hyper-partisan Democrat governors and mayors who are purposely slowing the opening of their states and cities to retard economic recovery and place the blame on President Trump.  Finally, it is up to us to point out leftist hypocrisy (here, here, and here) because we have a media establishment that is derelict in its duty to inform the people.

Those on the fence may be enlightened for the first time with our bold comments, others may ridicule us.  So be it: that is owning the downside.

President Trump is a master of owning the downside, and that quality separated him from the pack during the 2016 presidential campaign, fueled his victory over Hillary Clinton on Election Day and makes him a formidable adversary to the left.

Trump-supporters, let us take a page out of his book when dealing with rude and thoughtless Democrats.  For example, you are at a party, and out of the blue, someone calls President Trump a clown or a liar or runs down America.  In the past, you might have stayed silent, not wanting to deal with the hassle, but now you choose to calmly and confidently retort with facts accepting whatever consequences follow.  This is owning the downside.

Owning the downside means prudence.  Just because you sport a MAGA cap at a barbecue or get-together, does not mean you should do so in the company of violent hostiles or at your job.  Owning the downside means knowing the lay of the land and weighing the risk.

As a Christian, who happens to be black, I am constantly hearing from my white friends that, "Sure, you're able to criticize Black Lives Matter and the riots, but if I try it, I'll be called a racist."  I concede their point, but I mention that they can still call out the truth when they are socializing with others of their same ethnicity.  After all, it is white liberals who exercise the soft bigotry of low expectations toward blacks.

Let's make it our goal that, among our circle of acquaintances, leftist narratives will not go unchallenged.  What I am talking here is a rhetorical insurgency of pushback, not a physical resistance.

The most effective consequence of owning the downside is challenging any media narratives our friends or loved ones may be blindly following or mindlessly regurgitating.  Will we always have success in changing people's minds?  Perhaps, but we must be ready to accept any negative reaction like being called a racist, a homophobe, or an Uncle Tom.  Other results could take the form of being disinvited to functions or outright shunning.  No one sets out to be disliked, but if owning the downside reveals who our true friends are and where we should place loyalty, then perhaps we are better off not associating with those who so quickly reject us.

Owning the downside is a philosophy that, once adopted, we must continue for the rest of our lives.  One president cannot rescue America, even if that president is Donald Trump.  More Americans must step up and take the slings and arrows.  Saving this country from Marxism and communism could take years, possibly our lifetimes, and is worth us risking our reputations among those we considered friends and acquaintances.  Standing for truth and being hated is a badge of honor compared to being liked while standing for nothing.

Dex Bahr is the author of the book,  No Christian Man is an Island. He is also a freelance writer and lecturer.

Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of two Pixabay public domain images.