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FirmhandKY -> RE: The role of race in conservative media (8/1/2010 8:51:59 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: VioletGray
Ok, first let me say that I identify as a liberal, but I can respect conservative philosophy. Smaller government (which to some means more freedom), the right to bear arms (which for some means not being totally subservient to the government), Capitalism ( which for some means the right to prosper as much as their work and brilliance allows them to, without having to share it with people who didn't earn it), I get that. I mean no disrespect to the conservatism at its essence. I think that we need both parties, as it will be the job of each party to tug us back toward the center should we slide too far in either direction. I believe that it is the tension between these two that keeps the country running.
BUT---
As of late, have you noticed a theme as far as FOX news and conservative blogs to a lesser extent? Here's some examples:
Reverend Wright. issue: race.
"New" Black Panther party issue: race.
Shirley Sherrod issue: race.
As well as targets Van Jones, a civil rights activist, and ACORN, an organization that helped mostly poor minorities until it was viciously lied about.
Do you think it's odd that all of these issues have arisen since the Obama presidency? The "New Black Panther Party" has been around since the mid-nineties (and is NOT recognized as such by any of the REAL former black panthers.) Then you have this:
Rush Limbaugh: "Obama's after reparations for blacks!"
Glenn Beck: "Obama is a racist!"
Michelle Malkin: " Obama is a racial opportunist!"
As well as an entire chorus of birthers, racist picket sign holders, and people saying "Barack is a Kenyan Muslim Socialist/Marxist/Nazi who kills babies, kills them with the guns he confiscates from decent, hard-working 'mericans!"
So here's the question, and not just for conservatives: Do you feel like you're being fed something? Do you feel as if there is a deliberate effort by the right-wing media, through subtle implications and more overt means, to drive home the idea that the black people are out to get you? I don't want to make this post really, really long, but if you're not familiar with it, look up "southern strategy" on Wikipedia. It seems to me that the southern strategy is being attempted on a national scale because for the first time in history, we have a president that they think it might work on.
You know why I hate reality shows? Because they insult my intelligence. They want me to believe that every thing Snookie or Flavor Flav does just happened on its own, that none of the situations were written into the show, and they try to control my emotions through cheap editing tricks (especially contests, where they say "and the winner is..." and then prolong it with shots of the anxious contestants faces, for like 30 seconds with suspenseful music. I'm looking at YOU, Last Comic Standing!)
It's that same annoyance I feel with the right-wing media right now. Are there liberals trying to push some sort of propaganda onto the public as well? I'm sure. But really who cares? If the liberal movement was a T-Rex, the propaganda section would be the arms. And BOTH those arms are Rachel Maddow, who is awesome, but she can't do it all by herself.
I guess my point is that, seriously, the conservative point of view I think has enough merit on its own without having to resort to these terrible tactics. This is the same part of the Right that insists on the saying Barack HUSSEIN Obama.
VG,
A very well written post, I must admit.
I agree with some of your points, but, truthfully, I'm almost pass the point of caring any more.
We had a similar discussion several months ago (Could we kindly cut the nazi/communist crap?), where a liberal poster (Spinner of Tales - RIP) wanted to know why all of a sudden the right was using the NCFS terminology ... and couldn't we just stop, and discuss things like adults?. NCFS was one of Arpig's contribution, meaning the Nazi/Communist/Fascist/Socialist terms of insult being slung around in the political discussion.
I'm pretty much in the same position on the use of the "racism" meme as I was in that thread about NCFS comments: basically, it's been a freely used weapon from the left for so long, and now the right has been handed the perfect political opportunity to effectively sling it right back.
Boo-frigging-hoo.
In the thread I referenced above, the OP wanted to know "... can we stop with the boogie man, communist, nazi nonsense long enough to maybe discuss the issues? ".
The left leaning members of the forum initially turned it into a joke thread, and it wasn't until the 6th page that I decided to point out the fact that it was the left that was refusing to take it seriously. For the next couple of pages, I had a reasonable discussion with a few posters, but the old lefty tactics came out again in force, and they demonstrated the very same childish, insulting, belittling behavior of which I pointed out that they were guilty .
That's what the left does.
Some of my comments that are applicable to this thread:
I see no repentance on the left for their coarsing of the political discussion, nor for their Alinsky-ist tactics of destroying the messenger rather than engaging in honest debate. I see no indication of them making even the smallest efforts to actually take into account over half of the US population that doesn't live, eat, breath and sleep their particular philosophy ("I won" x 2). I see no real interest in them having an honest discussion ("Every crisis is an opportunity"). All I really see is outrage and distaste that "the little people" dare to disagree, and make that disagreement known.
Is everyone on the left guilty of perfidy, here on the CM forums? Nope.
Are all left-of-center politicians in the US guilty of perfidy? Again, nope.
But the fact is that in my opinion, and in a growing number on the right, that there is no way to reasonably return to kinder, gentler times, and that the grounds for discussion has permanently shifted, and it's not only unlikely that trying to tone down the rhetoric will do us a damn bit of good, but that if we do not adopt some of the left's tactics, then we are nothing more than sheep being lead to the slaughter, baaaaing, and bleating ineffectually.
And I hate that. It's not in my nature to believe that reasonable people can't be reasonable.
But with many of our current Democratic political leaders painting anyone or any organization which doesn't agree with them as the epitome of evil, do you not think that there would be a reaction? Do not liberals understand that when you marginalize a group, you create anger and resentment? That that anger and resentment can only be exacerbated by the rhetoric that they continue to use?
And when the left gets even the slightest taste of their own medicine, they go into hysteria and hyperventilation?
Why should we on the right give a shit what they think? Do they give a shit what we think? Nope.
So, all that being said ... I much prefer to engage in discussions without the animosity, and the use of NCFS terminology. It's inaccurate. It's deadening to the discussion, and it's mean spirited. I do not think it has any place on the CM forums, although it has been a common left-side talking point over the last 8 years at least.
But, in the public arena? I just don't know if I give a shit what the "bushitler" and "all conservatives are nazis" crowds on the left get smacked with. Ask me again in a few months, or a couple of years, and maybe I'll have lightened up a little, but I doubt it. Unless and until several major Democratic politicians publicly apologize and take their own party to task over their own methods of discourse, there is no repentance, and therefore there is no forgiveness in my heart.
So, bottom line, it's the intellectual and political left that has given the world "you're a racists!" attacks, race-baiting as a political technique, and which sees the boogyman of racism under every rock and nook and cranny (as long as it is to their political benefit). Never forgiving (unless you voted the right way), and using it as a weapon to destroy their political opponents. When it's not to their advantage? "An unfortunate mistake".
This witch-hunt atmosphere is what has made "honestly talking about race" near impossible. This leftist inspired political weapon has caused (and will cause) more anger, hurt, and destruction before it is finally played out, then most people can even envision, I think.
They have devalued the ability to work against actual racism, and increased racial hatred and animosity by unnecessarily "stirring up the racial pot".
The left gave us the recipe. Now they can eat the damn meal. And choke on it.
Firm
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