African American
In reply to the discussion: Ta-Nehisi Coates, Bernie Sanders, and Reparations [View all]lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Thanks.
I like a lot of FDR's new deal policies. But when people say 'let's return to the good old days of FDR' that carries implications that can harken a nostalgia that for many was terrible. Whether or not people who say this are well-intentioned is beside the point. They should be aware of the sensitivities of calls to the American past, and what that means for minorities, for women etc.
This may have to do somewhat with the point that Coates is making. If you say you want a 'revolution' then you should have some sensitivity to what that word implies. It means a radical upheaval of the social, political, economic and moral order of things. That can also have disastrous effects for many if it's combined with returning to those 'good old days'. I see too many people throwing words around and then backing off of them whenever it suits their own purpose. It gives me pause, as I'm wary of anyone throwing around loaded words, phrases or memes who are unmindful of their implications.