If you’ve been paying attention to a certain type of white progressive lately, especially on the topic of racism, you’ll have noticed something strange. (Okay, you’ll have noticed a number of strange things, but I’ll just be focusing on one here.)
The difference between "there are racists in America" and "America is a racist country" is the difference between having hope of improvement and having no hope. It is the difference between identifying opportunities for moral progress and believing that the only way "forward" is to destroy everything and rebuild something completely new upon the ashes. It is the difference between admitting past atrocities, recognizing our progress and striving to do better, as against denying there has been progress and citing slavery, Jim Crow and redlining as though these horrors and injustices are still going on today and will go on forever. As though the fact that they happened in the past gives them equal force in the present and forever shadows our hopeless future.
I'm seeing Germany held up as a country that properly dealt with it's own moral stain. The holocaust is taught in schools and it is said none of the worst details are evaded. Which is fine; I'm all for hiding nothing about American history that is shameful and treacherous. But those holding up Germany to be emulated fail to point out that Germans don't go around calling Germany a "Nazi Nation." This is because there is no program to undo Germany. Instead, even though I think the guilt over the holocaust and Nazism has hurt Germany in many ways, Germans are not giving up on their country. They admit to the past and they even admit there are still Nazis among them, but they hold the door open to the future. They are allowed to have hope. But let a congressperson stand up in the USA and say, "this is not a racist nation", and all hell breaks loose. Now that's a real difference.
So you see, you asked a very good question. A key question. The pivotal question, really.
They complain because an old lady didn't smile at them or some such crap. It's so narcissistic.
So brilliant, Steve.
This person interacting with you doesn’t seem to really SEE you as a human who treats with racial issues consistently with a focus on just freakin’ making things better.
Talking points and pablum. There’s nothing real in the commentary.
I think the need to feel not-racist is driving a lot of silliness from the white woke. It just fails the resonance test for me.
That being said, I respect the willingness to engage and seek understanding. Because many people who are encountering ideas for the first time need our support and care to make it to the next phase.
Let’s be charitable and thank all those who want to do and be better people - but let’s please focus on improving real lives where it counts.
I always LOVE to "hear" what You have to "say," Steve. There are so MANY things I'd like to comment on. But I'll limit myself to this one point:
"we can agree that there’s a great deal of dishonesty in the way that some people talk about race at the moment."
IF You have time, and I know You may not, here's a link to some CRTers: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/06/loudoun-county-critical-race-theory-debacle.html I wonder what You think of this group of high self-acclaim that's been formed: https://www.educatingforamericandemocracy.org/ Their express purpose, as far as I can see from the article, is to implement CRT in schools "in all but name." When I see a red flag like that pop up, I distrust the entire idea of the thing. What scares me is their blatant lies. The group CLAIMS to be made of "a diverse and cross-ideological group of scholars and educators..." "Cross-ideological" doesn't belong in the same sentence as "scholars and educators." THey ALL believe in CRT.
Oh, and I see we can't edit a comment after posting it. I didn't mean to imply in my comment below that you didn't know the significance of the "why do you want to say America is a racist country" question. I know you do, of course. Raising this question is a great way to see where a person really stands.
I'll have a go at an answer:
The difference between "there are racists in America" and "America is a racist country" is the difference between having hope of improvement and having no hope. It is the difference between identifying opportunities for moral progress and believing that the only way "forward" is to destroy everything and rebuild something completely new upon the ashes. It is the difference between admitting past atrocities, recognizing our progress and striving to do better, as against denying there has been progress and citing slavery, Jim Crow and redlining as though these horrors and injustices are still going on today and will go on forever. As though the fact that they happened in the past gives them equal force in the present and forever shadows our hopeless future.
I'm seeing Germany held up as a country that properly dealt with it's own moral stain. The holocaust is taught in schools and it is said none of the worst details are evaded. Which is fine; I'm all for hiding nothing about American history that is shameful and treacherous. But those holding up Germany to be emulated fail to point out that Germans don't go around calling Germany a "Nazi Nation." This is because there is no program to undo Germany. Instead, even though I think the guilt over the holocaust and Nazism has hurt Germany in many ways, Germans are not giving up on their country. They admit to the past and they even admit there are still Nazis among them, but they hold the door open to the future. They are allowed to have hope. But let a congressperson stand up in the USA and say, "this is not a racist nation", and all hell breaks loose. Now that's a real difference.
So you see, you asked a very good question. A key question. The pivotal question, really.
They complain because an old lady didn't smile at them or some such crap. It's so narcissistic.
So brilliant, Steve.
This person interacting with you doesn’t seem to really SEE you as a human who treats with racial issues consistently with a focus on just freakin’ making things better.
Talking points and pablum. There’s nothing real in the commentary.
I think the need to feel not-racist is driving a lot of silliness from the white woke. It just fails the resonance test for me.
That being said, I respect the willingness to engage and seek understanding. Because many people who are encountering ideas for the first time need our support and care to make it to the next phase.
Let’s be charitable and thank all those who want to do and be better people - but let’s please focus on improving real lives where it counts.
I always LOVE to "hear" what You have to "say," Steve. There are so MANY things I'd like to comment on. But I'll limit myself to this one point:
"we can agree that there’s a great deal of dishonesty in the way that some people talk about race at the moment."
IF You have time, and I know You may not, here's a link to some CRTers: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/06/loudoun-county-critical-race-theory-debacle.html I wonder what You think of this group of high self-acclaim that's been formed: https://www.educatingforamericandemocracy.org/ Their express purpose, as far as I can see from the article, is to implement CRT in schools "in all but name." When I see a red flag like that pop up, I distrust the entire idea of the thing. What scares me is their blatant lies. The group CLAIMS to be made of "a diverse and cross-ideological group of scholars and educators..." "Cross-ideological" doesn't belong in the same sentence as "scholars and educators." THey ALL believe in CRT.
In another case, there's Kendi. He makes point that black business-people don't get loans in same percentage as white folk. He neglects to point out any solution, WHICH IS ALREADY AVAILABLE: https://www.fdic.gov/resources/supervision-and-examinations/consumer-compliance-examination-manual/documents/4/iv-1-1.pdf What's needed, to me and I believe You, Steve, is ENFORCEMENT, not more blathering by those ego-driven.
I guess I should say, "In My Humble Opinion."
As always, TYTY for Your wisdom, Steve. :) = 😊😊
Oh, and I see we can't edit a comment after posting it. I didn't mean to imply in my comment below that you didn't know the significance of the "why do you want to say America is a racist country" question. I know you do, of course. Raising this question is a great way to see where a person really stands.