Isn’t this what “eat the rich” is for? I don’t think it’s quite the same but it puts a toe over the civility line in a way I think pushes similar buttons
“Of all the narratives, though, the notion that political correctness “caused” the swing to Trump is most self-serving and absurd—as though we could have altered the flow of history by… talking slightly differently. But left-wing scolding does not cause racism.”
Agree definitely does not cause racism, but allows opportunity for right-wing players to *combine* racists with people who have felt scorned for decades and whose resentments are stoked by the news and media they see.
I think 20% of MAGA would not be such without liberal scorn from the successful realms of culture. Mea culpa.
It’s beginning to be clear(er than it was before) that desire is a greater motivator than rationalism. More of us seem to want to unleash our hate and bitterness and frustration than weigh up the realistic options. Hell, many of us appear to believe that our hatred, bitterness, and frustration IS the real rather than a response to it. If in doubt, throw off your doubts…
'Of all the narratives, though, the notion that political correctness “caused” the swing to Trump is most self-serving and absurd—as though we could have altered the flow of history by… talking slightly differently. But left-wing scolding does not cause racism. What causes racism is that racism is a source of power and identity. What causes racism to be worse in the US than in many other Western countries is that the power generated by racial oppression was more direct, more extensive, and more long-lasting than in those countries. They had overseas colonies that they ruthlessly exploited. We maintained race-based chattel slavery for life on our home soil for decades longer than the rest of the world, and when we finally abolished it, we replaced it with a nearly century-long campaign of discrimination and state-sponsored terrorism against the emancipated slaves and their descendants.'
Exactly right, every word.
I'll add some of my thoughts from nine years ago-
"These events don’t occur in a vacuum, and rationalizing them as belonging solely to ‘the fringe’ — that is, somehow not contributed to by those who don’t commit hate crimes, but who hold the attitudes aligned with bigotry— excuses every person who contributes to them, whether by their active endorsement of, or passive acquiescence to, the attitudes and beliefs that say racism, misogyny, religious bigotry and homophobia are just ‘different viewpoints’, or even ‘the traditional way of looking at the world’...
Bigotry sat quietly in many households, in many communities, after decades of ‘not upsetting the liberal relations and neighbors’. This past year has taught us getting people not to say offensive things around liberals diminished bigotry not one bit...
That sounds quite a bit like [those] who suggest we ‘move past identity politics’— which is to say those who call themselves progressives, but who tell us we must abandon ‘identity politics’ to win elections— find themselves comfortably within the ranks of conservative Republicans. Perhaps those so antagonistic to ‘identity politics’ might want to ask themselves how they find themselves among such ideological company.
We can understand why people want to smooth things over with bigoted relations— it’s upsetting, especially with family members and friends, when we realize that they think, and say, horrible things, and may act in horrible ways— like refuse service to someone who is African-American, or Muslim, or LGBT.
Tell me how attitudes have changed in the last fifty years, that planting seeds with bigots has brought about any change in the attitudes, or the numbers, of bigoted whites in this country?"
You make a really good point here -- the desire to use "politically incorrect" language does largely correspond with an appetite for cruelty. When we aspire to become better people (and thus create a better world by aspiring to topple oppressive hierarchies), we should be able to overcome this desire.
Given the clarity of this point, I am confused about why you took a shot at Ezra Klein in the first paragraph. Klein was not defending use of that politically incorrect language during the podcast. I thought the episode was a great example of how we can engage those with whom we disagree, which is vastly superior to hiding from criticism by means of sinking deeper into your own media bubble.
Again, I agree with the argument you make in this post. I just think the lob at Klein obscures the focus of your argument while failing to advance any key points.
You seem to misunderstand the stakes of my post and hence why I'm referring to Klein. I don't think he's defending politically incorrect language, nor is the language issue ultimately my main point.
Isn’t this what “eat the rich” is for? I don’t think it’s quite the same but it puts a toe over the civility line in a way I think pushes similar buttons
Even with that, there's an asymmetry -- no white person is worried they'll become Black, but they do imagine they could become rich.
People are more subtle than you think, I think. Slight a person subtly and see how they seem to rise above themselves in acuity.
It’s only words, but words hurt.
In the years before the hippies, common folk were well-spoken of by liberals, but since the hippies general scorn.
Not sure what you’re getting at here. Could you say more?
When you write
“Of all the narratives, though, the notion that political correctness “caused” the swing to Trump is most self-serving and absurd—as though we could have altered the flow of history by… talking slightly differently. But left-wing scolding does not cause racism.”
Agree definitely does not cause racism, but allows opportunity for right-wing players to *combine* racists with people who have felt scorned for decades and whose resentments are stoked by the news and media they see.
I think 20% of MAGA would not be such without liberal scorn from the successful realms of culture. Mea culpa.
Ah, makes sense. I have another post percolating around that topic as well.
Adam, Great article that I think gets at universalities of the human condition.
Also, are you no longer active on Bluesky?
I am not. I am trying to be more cautious.
It’s beginning to be clear(er than it was before) that desire is a greater motivator than rationalism. More of us seem to want to unleash our hate and bitterness and frustration than weigh up the realistic options. Hell, many of us appear to believe that our hatred, bitterness, and frustration IS the real rather than a response to it. If in doubt, throw off your doubts…
'Of all the narratives, though, the notion that political correctness “caused” the swing to Trump is most self-serving and absurd—as though we could have altered the flow of history by… talking slightly differently. But left-wing scolding does not cause racism. What causes racism is that racism is a source of power and identity. What causes racism to be worse in the US than in many other Western countries is that the power generated by racial oppression was more direct, more extensive, and more long-lasting than in those countries. They had overseas colonies that they ruthlessly exploited. We maintained race-based chattel slavery for life on our home soil for decades longer than the rest of the world, and when we finally abolished it, we replaced it with a nearly century-long campaign of discrimination and state-sponsored terrorism against the emancipated slaves and their descendants.'
Exactly right, every word.
I'll add some of my thoughts from nine years ago-
"These events don’t occur in a vacuum, and rationalizing them as belonging solely to ‘the fringe’ — that is, somehow not contributed to by those who don’t commit hate crimes, but who hold the attitudes aligned with bigotry— excuses every person who contributes to them, whether by their active endorsement of, or passive acquiescence to, the attitudes and beliefs that say racism, misogyny, religious bigotry and homophobia are just ‘different viewpoints’, or even ‘the traditional way of looking at the world’...
Bigotry sat quietly in many households, in many communities, after decades of ‘not upsetting the liberal relations and neighbors’. This past year has taught us getting people not to say offensive things around liberals diminished bigotry not one bit...
That sounds quite a bit like [those] who suggest we ‘move past identity politics’— which is to say those who call themselves progressives, but who tell us we must abandon ‘identity politics’ to win elections— find themselves comfortably within the ranks of conservative Republicans. Perhaps those so antagonistic to ‘identity politics’ might want to ask themselves how they find themselves among such ideological company.
We can understand why people want to smooth things over with bigoted relations— it’s upsetting, especially with family members and friends, when we realize that they think, and say, horrible things, and may act in horrible ways— like refuse service to someone who is African-American, or Muslim, or LGBT.
Tell me how attitudes have changed in the last fifty years, that planting seeds with bigots has brought about any change in the attitudes, or the numbers, of bigoted whites in this country?"
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/12/27/1614847/-After-fifty-years-talking-with-and-trying-to-understand-Trump-voters-has-produced-nothing
No mention of Palestine or the lack of forgiveness for student loans. Or the myriad of other things, like health care, that democrats could try to do.
You really zeroed in on the central point of this blog post.
Yes, I was high when I read it (not very well). Mea culpa.
You make a really good point here -- the desire to use "politically incorrect" language does largely correspond with an appetite for cruelty. When we aspire to become better people (and thus create a better world by aspiring to topple oppressive hierarchies), we should be able to overcome this desire.
Given the clarity of this point, I am confused about why you took a shot at Ezra Klein in the first paragraph. Klein was not defending use of that politically incorrect language during the podcast. I thought the episode was a great example of how we can engage those with whom we disagree, which is vastly superior to hiding from criticism by means of sinking deeper into your own media bubble.
Again, I agree with the argument you make in this post. I just think the lob at Klein obscures the focus of your argument while failing to advance any key points.
You seem to misunderstand the stakes of my post and hence why I'm referring to Klein. I don't think he's defending politically incorrect language, nor is the language issue ultimately my main point.
Having reread your post in light of your comment, I see I was misunderstanding your point. Thank you for prompting me to take a second look.
Wow, thanks for taking it in stride! Is this even the internet?!