Are we embracing or are we being bludgeoned with them?
You are correct. The progressive-left-media-government-complex (to paraphrase Eisenhower) has really grasped huge power over society that it never had before. Technology has partially contributed to this, but my own belief is that our Government at all levels - and particularly the many cronies and ideologues who depend on it, have grown fat off printed money and massive debt.
Americans also are increasingly a kept, sheeplike people - they may be confused or dismayed by non-stop political-social agitation, so they eventually convince themselves to agree with the narrative being pushed.
Yup. I'm being bludgeoned by the number of gay/lesbian/transgendered threads on FR. It appears some posters have an obsession with posting articles of this twisted behavior.