This notion of Trump (and Trump supporters) and racism is something I truly hope we can have ongoing REASONABLE dialogue on. When the "mexican judge" thing came up, I challenged many of RF'ers on what makes that racist? Still don't feel I got adequate response, and instead got response that tells me people don't really understand actual racism. So, they bandy the word around as if they are the superior intellectuals in the room, whereas I observe them as barely understanding the concept. Feel free to throw in my face that the likes of Paul Ryan saw that as textbook racism, and I'll feel free to say I disagree with Paul Ryan on this, because he too is mistaken.
Racism is not dead in America, but it is truly fringe. Prejudice is wide spread. And it is CLEARLY not on one side alone. If you think such a notion, then I see that as having blinders on. In many ways (or even many threads on RF) you can see just how prejudice works on the Left, and also see how it is one big huge factor why Dems lost. Even visibly so. The idea that a whole swath of people (who supported Trump) are "deplorable" is blatant prejudice. Enough of prejudicial statement that it is plausible reason why HRC lost. For sure not the only reason, but pretty sure there are Dems among us who now realize how politically idiotic it was for HRC to make that assertion. And yet, it isn't the only type of thing from Dem supporters I heard in that vein. I almost feel like I heard variation of that every single day for last 6 months. Had a close friend express to my face something similar and when I called him on that, it got heated fast. Then we stopped speaking (his choice) and today we had some reconciliation (started by me, he participated with kindness).
There is the superficial stuff we (America) are earnestly trying to do to overcome our prejudicial ways. Such as voting for African American twice to be POTUS. Or how when Trump was giving his victory speech, my observation was Ben Carson got the loudest applause of all people Trump chose to thank (when I thought it would make sense to have that go to Kellyanne Conway). That stuff feels good, I hope for everyone, but I realize true racists probably loathe such gestures. I truly think they are on the fringe, and while it is possibly best to ignore them as much as possible, I think completely disregarding such people is something that helps with their political influence, however slight that might be.
Then there's the heart of the intellectual debate that I see come up once in awhile, but is in some ways disallowed because of the idea that during such an open and frank discussion someone might be offended. If that is truly the rationale for shutting down the discussion, then is it any wonder why things are the way they are, where when prejudices are expressed we act like that's so new, so over the top we have to elevate it to racist rhetoric and shun all such points? The reality is that prejudice is clearly a two way street unless active listening is occurring and people are present who can tolerate the prejudicial rhetoric of fellow citizens, while offering rational rebuttals that don't seek to shut things down completely because someone, somewhere might be offended.
To me, a simple starting point is realizing there's degrees of prejudice such as discrimination, stereotyping, bigotry, and racism. If all of those are put in the same category as if they are all synonymous and that is truly the intellectual conclusion, then to such a person I would say all people (with very very few exceptions) are "racist." I don't think that myself, but if the terms are going to be set up with such disingenuous understandings, the hyperbolic needs to be stated before that person walks away because of so called offense taken. It's honestly offensive to hear that Trump is racist and his supporters are racists, stupid, misogynistic. And yet, here I am. You get to express that, and I'll hear you.
But please do let me know if you are up for the reasonable discussion. Let me know if you can handle the tough talk. Regardless of your decision, me and the likes of me will still be here waiting for those amongst us who can truly handle the ongoing debate that still 'needs to happen' but for various reasons (i.e. prejudice of another sort makes it so it) is disallowed. And thus far, isn't really getting us anywhere.
Well, unless the superficial stuff is all you are really aiming for.
