I write to congratulate you on a noble effort to tackle our current morass, and I propose a friendly amendment to your label (of these purveyors of "bigoted incoherence”) as The Elect.
Where you write “deep down, most know that none of this catechism makes any sense. Less obvious is that it was not even composed with logic in mind”, you’re on a major road, which I’ll try to illuminate.
Of course, it was not even composed with logic in mind. Its main motive derived from, not logic, but Class snobbery.
I urge that the label become The “Educated” Elect, to stress the extent to which, a mentality capable of ginning up such incoherent ploys, has no warrant to do so, esp. when it styles itself to be The Educated, and above such a medieval level.
Part of what is so appalling about this incoherence is, that it emerges from those who, of all people, should know better, but who nonetheless revel in sneering at their Class Inferiors (who should be less expected to Know Better).
These Elect strut around with pride about how good their Education is, and it is presumably superior to what folks got in Torquemada’s day, so these brats’ pomposity is all-but insufferable.
These Elite Classes have built their *identities* on sneering at the Deplorables, but have treated US culture to orgies of intellectual/ journalistic malpractice, not only on issues of race, but (their pushing of the conspiracy theory of) Trump Collusion With Russian Hacking, (their dissing of) the “conspiracy theory” of covid’s possible origins from the Wuhan lab, the “murder” of Brian Sicknick, etc.
The degeneracy/ pretentiousness of their tantrums extends far beyond racial issues to virtually all aspects of public interaction, from cows about “vaccine hesitancy”, to obsessions vs. gender etc. Microaggressions.
Insofar as “They are your neighbor, your friend, possibly even your offspring”, you/we have a responsibility, to try to nurture most of the targets of this venom, and to deter these medievalists from at least some of their spectacularly unfair treatment of their Social Infeiors.
I started washing my hands of such (Woke) folks 7 years ago, before I realized their narcissistic conduct to be, not an anomaly here or there, but rather part of a broad emotional/ intellectual collapse,
You did well to be part of the Harpers’ letter about such matters, but I urge that more attn. be given to analyses of the broader Class War phenomena at work, from such writers as Chris Hedges, Archdruid J.M. Greer, Prof. Michael Lind, and Prof. Joel Kotkin.
I follow and enjoy your commentary. Even if I don’t agree with everything you say, I think it is grounded, thoughtful, researched, and compelling. Thank you.
In the 10 points you make at the beginning of the essay, there is a little bit of truth in each piece of what you critique, in my opinion. Racism is still real, bias still exists, and some racism is systemic in nature. You acknowledge this. There are real power dynamics that impact all of us in relation to our race. And privileges and barriers result. The more aware we are, the more we can try to balance out those power dynamics in a more fair and inclusive way. But if we only focus on the what seems endless and basically unsolvable (in the short and mid-term) impact at the systemic level, we miss at least 2 important things: 1) all of the progress that is being made at the individual level. Racial attitudes in terms of bias are improving, for example. This should be acknowledged and celebrated. 2) we disempower and stall, through rhetoric and punishment, individuals who want to see each other as individuals and create change from the bottom up.
It is implied in the title of your new book, that some of the social justice warriors are simply projecting their own unresolved racial biases onto other people. From a white perspective, if I am obsessed with systemic racism, is it not possible that I feel unempowered to be racially inclusive myself? There is so much projection in our society lately, but we’ve focused more on the projection coming from the right, and represented in Trump (the ultimate projector). We are all creating our racial status quo, from the overt prejudice and bigotry on the right, to the justice warriors on the left, but positive change is happening in the middle 60% or so of the country, and this bothers the other 40%.
The overheated racial dialogue right now, in my opinion as someone who works in organizational change, is a sign that change is occurring. Often, heightened overt resistance (e.g., polarized racial dialogue coming from many directions) means change is actually happening, because if change wasn’t really happening people wouldn’t be so upset and expressive. We are finally having that “national conversation about race” that so many politicians have called for over the years. And it isn’t pretty. Let the hundred blossoms of racism bloom where everyone can see, and then let us clarify our values of inclusion and individual agency, and keep going. This isn’t the time to describe the more overt racism in some quarters as proof of the unending power of racism permeating our entire society. In fact, that is exactly wrong, and is having the ironic impact of making racial reconciliation less likely. It is instead time to see our messy national dialogue as a stepping off point into something better, as a sign that we are changing, that we are finally grappling with the meaning of our demographic reality and our constitution. This is a time of taking 2 or 3 steps forward, if we let ourselves.
Hi Kaishaku, thank you for reading and commenting! What I mean about my vague (it never sounds vague in my own head lol) statement is that some of the "woke" are not so aware or "woke", and thus the focus on critiquing other people, and on the system, instead of looking at their own conduct, behavior, unconscious biases, etc. Regarding the "stepping off point", my view is that the dynamics you describe about Wokesters and sucking up liberals are a part of a change process. The resistance to racial progress comes from right and left and the part from the left is the Wokestars and sucking up liberals, because their vision isn't racial progress. The resistance from the right is more traditional resistance to racial progress, just hyped up by the times we are in. It is important that resistance is visible because resistance that stays underground tends to undermine change, while increasing overt resistance to change is often a sign that change is taking root. Also, the intensity of the resistance to positive racial change is quite high. I look at resistance as energy, and they more energy the greater the potential change is. That's why I think we might be on the cusp of big and important change when it comes to race. The majority is ready, even if the louder voices aren't. I wrote a blog "Why I am Optimistic About Inclusion", but I don't know if it is appropriate to post a link here. Anyhow, thanks for your engagement. Mark
Good stuff, Prof. John.
Dear Prof. John
I write to congratulate you on a noble effort to tackle our current morass, and I propose a friendly amendment to your label (of these purveyors of "bigoted incoherence”) as The Elect.
Where you write “deep down, most know that none of this catechism makes any sense. Less obvious is that it was not even composed with logic in mind”, you’re on a major road, which I’ll try to illuminate.
Of course, it was not even composed with logic in mind. Its main motive derived from, not logic, but Class snobbery.
I urge that the label become The “Educated” Elect, to stress the extent to which, a mentality capable of ginning up such incoherent ploys, has no warrant to do so, esp. when it styles itself to be The Educated, and above such a medieval level.
Part of what is so appalling about this incoherence is, that it emerges from those who, of all people, should know better, but who nonetheless revel in sneering at their Class Inferiors (who should be less expected to Know Better).
These Elect strut around with pride about how good their Education is, and it is presumably superior to what folks got in Torquemada’s day, so these brats’ pomposity is all-but insufferable.
These Elite Classes have built their *identities* on sneering at the Deplorables, but have treated US culture to orgies of intellectual/ journalistic malpractice, not only on issues of race, but (their pushing of the conspiracy theory of) Trump Collusion With Russian Hacking, (their dissing of) the “conspiracy theory” of covid’s possible origins from the Wuhan lab, the “murder” of Brian Sicknick, etc.
The degeneracy/ pretentiousness of their tantrums extends far beyond racial issues to virtually all aspects of public interaction, from cows about “vaccine hesitancy”, to obsessions vs. gender etc. Microaggressions.
Insofar as “They are your neighbor, your friend, possibly even your offspring”, you/we have a responsibility, to try to nurture most of the targets of this venom, and to deter these medievalists from at least some of their spectacularly unfair treatment of their Social Infeiors.
I started washing my hands of such (Woke) folks 7 years ago, before I realized their narcissistic conduct to be, not an anomaly here or there, but rather part of a broad emotional/ intellectual collapse,
You did well to be part of the Harpers’ letter about such matters, but I urge that more attn. be given to analyses of the broader Class War phenomena at work, from such writers as Chris Hedges, Archdruid J.M. Greer, Prof. Michael Lind, and Prof. Joel Kotkin.
For Hedges, see e.g. http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/chris_hedges_speaks_about_movements_at_the_womans_march_in_washington_20170 , vs. the Woke caricaturizing Trump voters for being “racist, misogynist”.
For Kotkin, see e.g. https://quillette.com/2020/02/27/the-two-middle-classes/ (on clerisy vs. yeomanry).
For Lind, see e.g. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/new-national-american-elite (esp. about how, on social media, “Woke speech is simply a ruling-class dialect, which must be updated frequently, to keep the lower orders from breaking the code”)
For Greer, see e.g. https://archdruidmirror.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-hate-that-dare-not-speak-its-name.html , on today’s Left’s hatred of (white) working classes, dressed up as defense of PoCs & women. (His current site is https://www.ecosophia.net/a-prayer-for-nonbelievers/ ).
John,
I follow and enjoy your commentary. Even if I don’t agree with everything you say, I think it is grounded, thoughtful, researched, and compelling. Thank you.
In the 10 points you make at the beginning of the essay, there is a little bit of truth in each piece of what you critique, in my opinion. Racism is still real, bias still exists, and some racism is systemic in nature. You acknowledge this. There are real power dynamics that impact all of us in relation to our race. And privileges and barriers result. The more aware we are, the more we can try to balance out those power dynamics in a more fair and inclusive way. But if we only focus on the what seems endless and basically unsolvable (in the short and mid-term) impact at the systemic level, we miss at least 2 important things: 1) all of the progress that is being made at the individual level. Racial attitudes in terms of bias are improving, for example. This should be acknowledged and celebrated. 2) we disempower and stall, through rhetoric and punishment, individuals who want to see each other as individuals and create change from the bottom up.
It is implied in the title of your new book, that some of the social justice warriors are simply projecting their own unresolved racial biases onto other people. From a white perspective, if I am obsessed with systemic racism, is it not possible that I feel unempowered to be racially inclusive myself? There is so much projection in our society lately, but we’ve focused more on the projection coming from the right, and represented in Trump (the ultimate projector). We are all creating our racial status quo, from the overt prejudice and bigotry on the right, to the justice warriors on the left, but positive change is happening in the middle 60% or so of the country, and this bothers the other 40%.
The overheated racial dialogue right now, in my opinion as someone who works in organizational change, is a sign that change is occurring. Often, heightened overt resistance (e.g., polarized racial dialogue coming from many directions) means change is actually happening, because if change wasn’t really happening people wouldn’t be so upset and expressive. We are finally having that “national conversation about race” that so many politicians have called for over the years. And it isn’t pretty. Let the hundred blossoms of racism bloom where everyone can see, and then let us clarify our values of inclusion and individual agency, and keep going. This isn’t the time to describe the more overt racism in some quarters as proof of the unending power of racism permeating our entire society. In fact, that is exactly wrong, and is having the ironic impact of making racial reconciliation less likely. It is instead time to see our messy national dialogue as a stepping off point into something better, as a sign that we are changing, that we are finally grappling with the meaning of our demographic reality and our constitution. This is a time of taking 2 or 3 steps forward, if we let ourselves.
Mark
"From a white perspective, if I am obsessed with systemic racism, is it not possible that I feel unempowered to be racially inclusive myself?"
Rather vague. Does "unempowered to be racially inclusive" refer more to personal conduct, or more activist stances?
"It is instead time to see our messy national dialogue as a stepping off point into something better, as a sign that we are changing..."
As I understand John, that has *no* chance for that, as long as Wokesters cling to their new religion, and as long as liberals suck up to them.
Hi Kaishaku, thank you for reading and commenting! What I mean about my vague (it never sounds vague in my own head lol) statement is that some of the "woke" are not so aware or "woke", and thus the focus on critiquing other people, and on the system, instead of looking at their own conduct, behavior, unconscious biases, etc. Regarding the "stepping off point", my view is that the dynamics you describe about Wokesters and sucking up liberals are a part of a change process. The resistance to racial progress comes from right and left and the part from the left is the Wokestars and sucking up liberals, because their vision isn't racial progress. The resistance from the right is more traditional resistance to racial progress, just hyped up by the times we are in. It is important that resistance is visible because resistance that stays underground tends to undermine change, while increasing overt resistance to change is often a sign that change is taking root. Also, the intensity of the resistance to positive racial change is quite high. I look at resistance as energy, and they more energy the greater the potential change is. That's why I think we might be on the cusp of big and important change when it comes to race. The majority is ready, even if the louder voices aren't. I wrote a blog "Why I am Optimistic About Inclusion", but I don't know if it is appropriate to post a link here. Anyhow, thanks for your engagement. Mark