There are moments in political history and even scientific thought when an “ideal” takes hold of a population, such as Reaganomics or identity politics. For 30 or 40 years, this ideal seems to explain who we are to ourselves, how strong or weak we are, and how we identify with the dream. Yet, eventually, the contradictions within it become increasingly unsustainable. A new ideal presents itself, forcing a break and allowing us to reestablish our identity with fresh attachment points.
Consider that this dispensation was always there; we were simply captured by an ideology that kept us blind to alternative options.
The process of disagreement to acceptance is a slow revelation, an enlightenment process of increased sight. And seeing is believing; thus, political action -symbolic warfare- begins until it too crumbles when our gleeful, shiny ideal impacts reality, becoming tarnished, used, and dingy.
From here, our alienation converts us back to seeking, looking for new words that align with our emotional vision of self. And magically, the cause was always there, merely waiting to be revealed and foisted high.