That's the way cultural change works in America: the rest of us discard a prejudice that the Right still clings to; in the fullness of time, the Right comes around, too, deploying clever rationalizations to forget they ever bore the prejudice in the first place.
Interpretation
Cultural change often involves overcoming prevalent prejudices, which may take time for everyone to recognize and accept.
Rick Perlstein's quote highlights the process of cultural change in America, where societal prejudices are often initially resisted by conservative groups. However, over time, as society evolves, these groups often adapt and rationalize their previous beliefs, ultimately leaving behind their initial biases even if they don't acknowledge their transformation. This reflects a broader trend in which social progress can eventually lead to a collective re-evaluation of outdated views.
In practice
In a discussion about social reforms, this quote could be used to illustrate how societal norms shift over time.
History does not repeat itself. Nor does it unfold in cycles. The real future is contingent, rich beyond imagining, a perennial gobsmack, tragic and glorious in equal measure; the pundits' future, spun of 'conventional wisdom,' is only a sucker punch to that common-sense fact.
India is known for much development that has happened since our independence, but at the same time, we have also failed on many levels. It is the responsibility of the future generation to ensure that all these failures are corrected and help create a civilised society with equal opportunities for one and all.
Growing old gracefully used to begin at about 35, but today women prefer to 'stay young gratefully' with thanks to designers, beauticians and plastic surgeons.
Life begin at the end of your Comfort Zone. So if you`re feeling uncomfortable right now, know that the change taking place in your life is a begining, not an ending
People are very hungry for something new. I think they are interested in being called to be a part of something larger than the sort of small, petty, slash-and-burn politics that we have been seeing over the last several years.
The world does not need tourists who ride by in a bus clucking their tongues. The world as it is needs those who will love it enough to change it, with what they have, where they are.
Native American activists have been present as long as the Europeans have been working to colonize us.
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