What is racism?
The above question is virtually unanswerable, because racism has become more of a political term than a racial term. It has joined a whole host of words which have lost their original meaning and taken on political meanings that often defy basic logic. In two earlier posts I struggled over which of the following would be more racist for a Republican: to support Herman Cain or to oppose Herman Cain. I concluded that it would not matter, because Republicans are racist by definition. That is because the left now has a de facto monopoly on the word “racism.”
They literally own it.
Their treatment of the Herman Cain phenomenon is the most perfect example of the utter absurdity of this process I have yet seen. While I do not support him (for reasons having nothing to do with his race), I marvel over the fact that if I did I would be guilty of racism. After all, he is a self-made black man who grew up in the segregated South, and who overcame genuine racism and achieved the American Dream, as well as Martin Luther King’s dream. Can anyone imagine having to explain to Dr. King if he were alive today how it can be that a white man supporting him constitutes racism?
Of course, it is pure politics, and it is grounded in a deeply held article of faith on the left that all Republican opposition to Obama is racist. Because Cain opposes Obama, he too becomes racist. Even though he is racially and culturally more black than Obama, like Clarence Thomas and Condoleeza Rice he ceases to be black because of his politics. So those who support him are not really supporting a black man; they are supporting a race traitor who has forfeited his right to be black.
In a marvelous leap of Orwellian logic, race itself is now conditioned on politics; you only get to be a member of your race if you hold certain opinions.
So, Cain is not black, and his supporters are all racists.
I hope I have made that more clear than it looks.
Comments
6 responses to “Understanding Racism©”
What makes me laugh (and cry) about that is that it’s mostly rich, white leftists who get to decide what black means.
Now that the endtimes are actually approaching, I’m wondering how it’s going to play out.
Still rooting for the asteroid.
I get so tired of the “If you don’t agree with me on X, you are (insert insult here).” thinking that is common to way too many people out there, Left and Right.
And perhaps worst of all is the way the Left plays the race card over and over and over again, and then claims to be all about racial reconciliation. They exploit racial tensions for political gain and act as if they aren’t. There’s plenty of stupidity in our political discourse, but the venality of the Left on this issue stands out as some of the worst political acts in my lifetime.
Such name calling is seen as an easy way to “win” arguments.
But if am a racist because I disagree with Obama’s policies, then why am I not also a racist for disagreeing with Cain’s policies?
I just point and laugh anymore. “That’s the best you got? Since you can’t respond to what I’ve said, I guess I’ve won the argument.”
After the sputtering, I ask what is racist/fascist/sexist about what I said.
We were tailgating at the AZ Cardinals/Giants game a couple weeks ago when a guy asked if we had forks. We didn’t so he said, “Since you have women we thought you would”
My friend, a fine lefty girl, called it “sexist”.
No, sexist is saying, “Women are only good for bringing forks and cleaning up afterward”.
Saying you would expect us to have forks because we have women is just noticing reality.
I often wonder what is more taxing about being such a partisan, ignoring reality or trying to figure out what point of view you’re expected to espouse.
“Can anyone imagine having to explain to Dr. King if he were alive today how it can be that a white man supporting him constitutes racism?”
No, because we wouldn’t have to. Mr King would be out there preaching on his own account, that here is Cain supporting white interests and against democratic socialism. Here is Cain preaching a gospel which could only harm the black man. Here is Cain who is NOT his brother’s keeper.
I mean, good heavens, it’s not like it takes a doctorate in theology to come up with a speech like that. (Which is fortunate for Mr King, who did not strictly speaking EARN that title.)
If race is a social construct, then it is perfectly obvious that Herman Cain is white.