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2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: What Black Lives Matter Gets Wrong About Bernie Sanders - Reuters [View all]Zenlitened
(9,488 posts)68. What Reuters Gets Wrong About Bernie Sanders and Black Lives Matter
#BlackLivesMatter is not about Bernie Sanders. It's about black lives.
If I may repeat myself:
#BlackLivesMatter is not about Bernie Sanders. It's about black lives.
To reduce the whole issue to nothing more than a "meme" is truly heartless, arrogant and grotesque.
To suggest that black protesters are unwitting pawns of right wing tacticians... or left-wing tacticians... well, that's some of the most racist, supremacist crap imaginable.
I've been white all my life, and a Democrat just about as long.
But what I've seen and heard from purported progressives the last few days has me feeling ashamed on BOTH counts.
Forfucksake, not everything is centered on us and our latest political calculus.
Black lives matter because black lives matter, not because of how the notion makes us feel about our prospects in an election year.
Not even when the movement makes its presence felt on a stage we assumed belonged to us, and us only.
Is that so hard to understand?
If it is too hard, then I encourage us to stop campaigning for Sen. Sanders entirely.
Because we're sure not doing him any favors by perpetuating this image of self-absorbed, bubble-dwelling, Beltway-beholden white liberals.
But if we really are willing to look beyond the ends of our own noses... if we really are committed to doing the work of Democratic coalition-building... then why don't we start by actually LISTENING to the people we'd like to see get on board with our candidate, whichever candidate we prefer?
Maybe even acknowledging that they have something valid to say, even if it's not listed on our own, inward-gazing strategy sheets?
I'll tell you, that's a much better gamble than hoping people will vote for someone whose supporters, they're daily persuaded, are complete assholes.
Remember years ago when LGBT was "the new Black?"
Yeah, that was a pretty specious claim back then. And even more so now, when it's obvious Black is the same Black, and has been right along.
Yet here we are years later, when advances in LGBT rights are counted among Pres. Obama's finest accomplishments.
Believe me, that didn't happen because of irritable Democrats who dismissed the topic with their talk of ponies and "poutrage."
It happened DESPITE them.
If Sen. Sanders wins the party nomination, it sure won't be because of his supporters trying to shout down #BLM, either.
To reduce the whole issue to nothing more than a "meme" is truly heartless, arrogant and grotesque.
To suggest that black protesters are unwitting pawns of right wing tacticians... or left-wing tacticians... well, that's some of the most racist, supremacist crap imaginable.
I've been white all my life, and a Democrat just about as long.
But what I've seen and heard from purported progressives the last few days has me feeling ashamed on BOTH counts.
Forfucksake, not everything is centered on us and our latest political calculus.
Black lives matter because black lives matter, not because of how the notion makes us feel about our prospects in an election year.
Not even when the movement makes its presence felt on a stage we assumed belonged to us, and us only.
Is that so hard to understand?
If it is too hard, then I encourage us to stop campaigning for Sen. Sanders entirely.
Because we're sure not doing him any favors by perpetuating this image of self-absorbed, bubble-dwelling, Beltway-beholden white liberals.
But if we really are willing to look beyond the ends of our own noses... if we really are committed to doing the work of Democratic coalition-building... then why don't we start by actually LISTENING to the people we'd like to see get on board with our candidate, whichever candidate we prefer?
Maybe even acknowledging that they have something valid to say, even if it's not listed on our own, inward-gazing strategy sheets?
I'll tell you, that's a much better gamble than hoping people will vote for someone whose supporters, they're daily persuaded, are complete assholes.
Remember years ago when LGBT was "the new Black?"
Yeah, that was a pretty specious claim back then. And even more so now, when it's obvious Black is the same Black, and has been right along.
Yet here we are years later, when advances in LGBT rights are counted among Pres. Obama's finest accomplishments.
Believe me, that didn't happen because of irritable Democrats who dismissed the topic with their talk of ponies and "poutrage."
It happened DESPITE them.
If Sen. Sanders wins the party nomination, it sure won't be because of his supporters trying to shout down #BLM, either.
Originally posted Tuesday at:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/128028225
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they were emotional over what happened with Sandra Bland, this wasn't some timed formal debate
JI7
Jul 2015
#36
The only reason - the ONLY FUCKING REASON - it "does not bring unity" is because
scarletwoman
Jul 2015
#39
The cops just LOVE this stupid shit. Plays right into their hands. Nobody sees it.
7962
Jul 2015
#60
Did you ever stop and think that "the black people" that you "know in the real world"
MADem
Jul 2015
#93
Like I said--there's nothing to rebut re: blm. That is their truth and they want
MADem
Jul 2015
#105
You wanted your say, though, and framed their cry for help as half of a conversation.
MADem
Jul 2015
#109
I am telling you how I am perceiving what you say, and I've said nothing to even
MADem
Jul 2015
#120
i was right when i said a lot of that outrage had little to do with Sanders himself
JI7
Jul 2015
#23
Only wrong in one thing - "racism is not quite as overt". I am 73 years old and do not think I have
jwirr
Jul 2015
#58
"The idea, presumably, was to get him to address questions of racism alone, particularly ..."
GoneFishin
Jul 2015
#10
in a coordinate plane I understand orthogonal to be more perpendicular than parallel
HereSince1628
Jul 2015
#33
Why are they taking it personally? Because nothing is as fiercely defended as one's blind spot. nt
scarletwoman
Jul 2015
#43
My blind spot are my mixed race family. AA, Native American, Latino, Asian and white. And when
jwirr
Jul 2015
#61
Not biased ... racist. Most people will readily admit they have biases. n/t
1StrongBlackMan
Jul 2015
#53
I understand ... You were trying to avoid the use of the term racist/racism ...
1StrongBlackMan
Jul 2015
#91
Why can't we eliminate racism without changing our economic system? n/t
1StrongBlackMan
Jul 2015
#55
Everything intersects: racism, homophobia, sexism, ableism, transphobia, and classism
DemocraticWing
Jul 2015
#74
Because the origin of racism in this country is an economic system in which men and women were OWNED
Romulox
Jul 2015
#80
so how does that explain Sandra Bland and the Pool kids and the RAcist cops ? the cops are not rich
JI7
Jul 2015
#82
They draw their salaries from "it"--they enforce the economic status quo with deadly force. nt
Romulox
Jul 2015
#87
I agree that racism was the dehumanizing tool used to further the slave enterprise
1StrongBlackMan
Jul 2015
#90
American slavery was the commodification of racism--it's purest form. "Otherism" isn't the same thing. nt
Romulox
Jul 2015
#92
Because it is built on racism, exploitation, and predatory behavior and if you extract
TheKentuckian
Jul 2015
#124
Somehow I think they're tired of the bullshit memo that he marched with MLK...
Historic NY
Jul 2015
#57