Narcissists

by Joni Kamiya, Hawaii Farmer’s Daughter, March 12, 2018

My friend Chuck Lasker has always said that the entire anti-GMO/organic movement is narcissistic in nature. I agreed but never really looked up what narcissism really meant in terms of a psychology concept. Now that I’m dealing with my own personal issue living with a narcissist, I now have a clearer understanding of what Chuck meant.

Narcissists have no empathy for others and that is evident in the anti-GMO and even the anti-TMT movement. When asked what alternative do they give if they get a ban, they have nothing to offer. I’ve asked countless activists what do they give papaya farmers if they take away this technology. They usually give the cop out of saying the farmers must go organic. We all know that organic was tried with no getting over the ring spot virus.

When I’ve asked activists what monies and opportunities will they give when the Thirty Meter Telescope is blocked, they just scream sacredness! They can’t even see the needs in the community and why Hawaii needs a diversified economy. These people prefer to revel in their selfies and hashtags of #wearemaunakea but have nothing to return to improve people’s lives.

I’ve even seen well-fed activists here demanding that Golden Rice be banned while they state that giving carrots are a better solution. These folks have never experienced under nutrition or malnutrition but give the developing countries a “solution” without any consideration of why that simple one doesn’t work there. The irony is that activists claim to be for social justice but deny those who need a technology.

The new trend of clean eating is yet another example of narcissism pervading society. People proudly profess how they eat with beautiful images of food. It’s like boasting that there is clean or good food and everything else is bad. If you’re eating the “bad” food, you’re made to feel lesser of a person.

The selfish boasting of “I only eat organic” is yet another elitist attitude about food. One of the afterschool program leaders told me that she tries to buy organic because she heard it’s better and felt bad when she couldn’t afford to. I explained to her that she should not feel bad about the groceries she buys because we have such an abundant and safe food supply. There’s no shame in buying regular food that one can afford. I encouraged her to save money and buy what she can afford. Feeling guilty is succumbing to unscrupulous marketing strategies.

Narcissists really have no regard for their impact upon others. That’s especially true when the activists proudly tout crop destruction of job losses of their neighbors. These activists will lie straight to anyone who listens and make multiple false accusations with no regards to facts. Even when called out, these self-centered folks can’t even recognize how bad they look saying horrible things. The fact that they encourage more bad behavior and don’t condemn it is evidence of how cruel and uncaring this movement really is.

Hollywood stars and celebrities jumping into the issue and posing as “experts” is even more reflective of the narcissism pervading the anti movement. I find it ironic that these activists accuse me of seeking fame and fortune for speaking out for biotechnology, when the reality is that these few years have cost me lots of money and I’m not making anything for fighting for our farm. Meanwhile, the Food Babe is busy selling new products, the Center for Food Safety’s Ashley Lukens is asking for donations along with the HAPA’s Gary Hooser for their non-profits. I’ve not seen a single penny go towards helping people who have been harmed as they claim. Nothing goes back to the community that they claim to be saving.

A narcissist can’t understand that their actions and words have impacts upon others. They think they are free of consequences of their words. People like this do not care about that farmer’s success and whether or not he or she can provide for a family. They don’t care about the community when they talk about it but really have no proof of actually improving it. They don’t put their hands to work to grow a crop that provides food for the community. Once again, there is talk but nothing of substance offered.

The self-centered, reactionary nature of being anti is very selfish. It’s all about them, their selfies, me, me, me. “Let me say anything I please because I don’t care how it makes anyone else feel.” It doesn’t matter if it invites others to threaten people too. Here we tell kids not to bully others, and the activists do they very thing to those trying to educate. They’ve become the “look at me” kids on the playground.

So to the politicians surrounding yourself with the antis, Sen. Josh Green, Sen. Russell Ruderman, Rep. Kaniela Ing, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, and former Rep. Jessica Wooley, you represent the lowest of the low in people. They thrive on celebrating ignorance and dividing communities. History has shown what these politicians do when the come to power.

They take advantage of fear and use it to rile up the public and shut down critical thinking. People become irrational and act without considering the consequence of their actions. Not only is one’s ignorance taken advantage of, but using the least emotionally intelligent is yet another tactic of the anti activists.

This was an unsolicited message from an anti-activist the other day. He read my community voice on Civil Beat and immediately jumped to the conclusion that it was about Monsanto. I countered him rationally and as cowards usually act, he tries to intimidate via a private message. It’s downright pathetic that there are adults who are acting like playground bullies.

Self-centered, power hungry politicians take note because intolerance is not popular and never was acceptable. When you lead with your egotistical aspirations, your followers reflect it. It’s time for rational, fact based discussions instead of manipulation of emotions. Our communities deserve some healing and some semblance of sanity.