I am sure that a lot of you have heard of the term the fifth columnist. What is a fifth columnist. This is as person who works in league with a very evil person, while still trying to be buddy-buddy with the resistance. In fact the fifth columnist job is actually quite sinister. It’s to lull people into a very false sense of security…then it’ll be too late.
The Goal of the fifth columnist
The Goal of the fifth columnist is simple…to bring disunity among a pro democracy group by trying to reassure people that everything is alright, and the bad person isn’t bad. This is a dangerous form of gaslighting that has gotten people killed. It’s also why I preach media literacy, logic training, and doing actual hard work. Because I know even 5th columnists can come in and destroy the work.
Also keep in mind a fifth columnist will attack anybody that holds them to account. Notice even on non-social media they go “Well not every…” or “I didn’t…” they don’t want to own up for what they’re doing, and what they have done. I have used the Gaza plight in many examples in articles here, to drive the point home. People who didn’t care about Gaza suddenly cared because 2024 was an election year.
Protection against a fifth columnist.
It’s actually very simple to protect yourself against a fifth columnist. First media literacy and logic training will go a long way. Also a biggest thing in speech and debate is to challenge them when they say something that doesn’t’ make sense. That is, ask the two simplest and hardest questions that will force them to make them think things through.
First ask a question beginning with why, as in “Why do you think that?” This will force them to be honest, or triple down on their lies. You’ll realize that if they try to triple down, they have nothing, and you should walk away. you got all of the info you need on them
Also ask them a question beginning with “How?” As in “How do you think this would happen?” Force them to give a step-by-step formula as to the timeline of events and consequences. Again they have the choice of being honest or tripling down on their rhetoric.
Don’t give a cookie for them doing the barest minimum.
These people wish to be praised for doing the barest minimum. Don’t give them that praise. This would make them feel like they can do the barest minimum possible. For example, Brian Kemp (R-GA) and Brad Raffensperger (R-GA) as the Governor and Secretary of State of Georgia, they blocked Trump’s attempt to illegally find and overturn the 2020 GA results for Biden.
However, as it came out Raffensperger is asking to make it harder for Georgians to vote (and you know full-on that Georgians who live in Macon, Columbus, Savannah, and Atlanta tend to vote Democratic). This was something that I even had to snap myself out of quickly.
The Fifth Columnist when that threat has gone will want to have the plaudits of doing the barest minimum. They don’t get to have the barest minimum cookie. Instead those who actually fought and did the hardest work will instead get the plaudits, and they’ll have to self-reflect on their actions.
The fifth column is always an OP.
Here is something else to keep in mind, the fifth column has always been an op. Think about it…when people don’t like when things are going well, they’ll go out of their way to mess it up. The biggest way they can mess it up is by poisoning the well of discourse.
Don’t fall for it. While everybody is different, and we all are able to disagree…sometimes, things are so out of pocket that you have to call somebody out on it. Trust me when I say fifth columnists are not the best people to call themselves leaders.
Above is the old cartoon the fifth column mouse that would actually illustrate what’s going on right now. Everybody should come together, and shun the 5th columnist exactly when the threat is over. While I do preach that people should inform, but not cause panic (because fear, panic, doom, and rage make people not think clearly). I also believe lulling people into a false sense of security is just as dangerous, and can cause more damage than good.