Tuesday, November 2, 2021

If We Are Going To Be Honest, The Term "White Backlash" Should Be Called... Racism.


The Guardian (UK) is right to call this out [and. . . it takes an ocean of distance to find this perspective, and print it, it would seem, sadly]. A political analyst -- commenting on the tight Virginia race, with voting underway today -- calls the potential for a GOP upset. . . "white backlash" against CRT, a theory not taught in Virginia public schools, at present.

I still think that McAuliffe, the Democratic candidate will win there, but it will be close.

I write primarily though, to note that any "white backlash" -- against a theory that is not being taught at all in the local public schools. . . ought to be called by its proper name: RACISM. Quoting, now:

. . .“The operative word is not critical,” Sabato said. “And it’s not theory. It’s race. What a shock, huh? Race. That is what matters. And that’s why it’s sticks.

“There’s a lot of, we can call it white backlash, white resistance, whatever you want to call it. It has to do with race. And so we live in a post-factual era. . . It doesn’t matter that [CRT] isn’t taught in Virginia schools. It’s this generalised attitude that whites are being put upon and we’ve got to do something about it. We being white voters. . . .”


And, ironically, the fact that at least some white people prefer to refer to this sort of irrational fear-mongering as 'white backlash' is itself a fairly strong proof. . . that CRT has it down, just about right.

White people, or at least some of them, are unable (and in fact unwilling) to see themselves as anything other than long-suffering saints and heroes. And these greivance peddling pro-Tangerine ultra-right white GOP candidates will be the death of our fragile Union, I fear. Wake up, people -- on to a win, in Virginia (though it may take weeks until the results are know with certainty).

नमस्ते
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3 comments:

  1. AnonymousNovember 2, 2021 at 1:42 PM

    I do agree it has components of racism.

    I think that most white people see it more of a knee-jerk reaction of fear (which has components of racism). The white people that vote in this manner (a.k.a. for Trump politics) are afraid that when the 'others' become the group with the political power, that they (the white people) will be subjected to the same policies that they (the white people) put on the 'others.'

    These same people vote against LGBT policies because they are 'afraid' of being influenced by 'others.' Much like the religious right~~

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  2. AnonymousNovember 2, 2021 at 2:16 PM

    A bit more on the fear>racism argument: https://ballotpedia.org/Virginia_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election,_2021. Those that vote for the Republican ticket will be supporting a person of color.


    Then again, am I being racist by not allowing a difference of politics to someone of color?

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  3. condorNovember 2, 2021 at 3:21 PM

    Both Lt. Gov. candidates are, to my eye. . . people of color -- so I am unsure whether that will matter (much).

    But I do hear you.

    I guess my point was/is. . . that these NON-factual, and therefor irrational fears. . . sometimes called "phobias" in psychology (and that is what these are -- irrational). . . especially expressed as being a "white" view ("white backlash"). . . are themselves. . . proof of racism.

    There is simply no rational basis for any "backlash" -- white, or otherwise.

    So it strikes me as "polite" white people not being willing to call what they are doing. . . and saying. . . racial fear-mongering.

    Or. . . racism. Because the unaware whites never wish to be painted as racists.

    They just want to keep controlling. . . essentially everything, as you cogently point out.

    Thanks -- and namaste. . . good input!

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