But ever since President Obama issued his executive orders on immigration and African Americans stood up to the events in Ferguson (and around the country), the emergence of a confederate insurgency has finally been plain for all to see. And now some of them are clueless about what's happening. Exhibit A: Atrios.
One doesn't have to go home again to realize just how pervasive racism is in this country. And, yes, I think it has gotten worse in the past few years or so. Why is a total mystery.A total mystery? Hmmm...only to those who haven't been paying attention for the last 6 years.
Change is a motherfucker when you run from it. And right now, the conservative movement in America is fleeing from dramatic change that is certain and immutable. A man of color is president for the second time, and this happened despite a struggling economic climate and a national spirit of general discontent. He has been returned to office over the specific objections of the mass of white men. He has instead been re-elected by women, by people of color, by homosexuals, by people of varying religions or no religion whatsoever. Behold the New Jerusalem.Time to wake up, dudebros!!!
Full Disclosure: I am a recovered Dudebro who used to read Firedoglake, Digby, Atrios, and a few other blogs I have not read in a long time (hey, it was the Bush years for crying out loud) but I always thought many younger, so called progressives have no sense of history at all, particularly as it relates to the history of African Americans or labor. Many of these folks are "well educated", but I wondered what the hell they learned in their history classes.
ReplyDeleteI will always give that contingent their due because, during the dark years of the Bush administration, people like Atrios and Digby were an oasis of rationality and hope.
DeleteThat they no longer fit the times does not take away one bit from the good they did.
Sorry - I think it DOES take away the good because their sense of privileged white entitlement was simply masked, not obvious, during the Bush years. That provides us a false sense of unity and of, for lack of any other word, morality. It means they were not talking for or with those whom they now exclude. We just didn't notice, and it's to our shame. Finding out they are as viciously racist or at best blind to people of color, to working men and women, to immigrants, to, well, anyone but themselves, does put their critique of Bush into a very different frame. If it's not about themselves, it's not worth discussing, and if the victims of society are harmed by those a lot like the writers, then, meh is the response. We let Bush critique blind us to another quite pernicious agenda of privilege for the few. Just a different few it turns out, but the few nonetheless.
DeleteNancy,
ReplyDeleteRe: The Dudebros and Blackademics who attacked President Obama for not giving an outraged statement after grand jury decision in Ferguson... Do you think it's in part because he doesn't want to jeopardize a possible civil rights violation case from his justice department by saying anything that's perceived as prejudicial or inflammatory?
I think that's a huge part of it. But I also think he knows how polarizing his statements can be. The night of the non-indictment he knew the Ferguson community was going to explode. I think his statement was an attempt to calm rather than inflame.
DeleteAlan,
ReplyDeleteYou are exactly right!
@DaleF3
I think DudeBros have a huge personal investment in *not* waking up. If they woke up, they would have to accept some hard truths that undermine their own sense of entitlement. People do not willingly give up privilege. Their 'privilege' is wholly dependent upon their bubble remaining intact. I think it's more reasonable to say, "People, wake up! DudeBros are not on your side. They are nascent Good Ole Boys."
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Tien. Well said.
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