Do I go with nuclear threats or with rampant unchecked racism? Let’s go with the topic we can do something about as a society. Racism it is.
Over the weekend there was an “Alt Right (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi)” (Neo-Nazi)" **editor’s note: whenever I see “Alt Right, I will add a bunch of “Nazi”s after it for clarity’s sake**march at UVA because someone was going to remove a statue of Robert E Lee from a public space because Lee is a symbol of the Confederacy and a reminder to people of color of a time in the US when they would have most likely been property. It started with torches and ended in death and injury. So let’s get into the idea of racism in the US. (sorry my non-US peeps, I will be VERY US-centric for today’s post), and it’s not a very fun one.
Thanks this week go to Sandy, Nicole, Aleshia, and some other guy for the questions. No reason to wait, let’s get into it…
1. What, if anything, is the difference between Neo-Nazis, white nationalist, and Alt Right (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi)?
Nothing really. At this point there is a semantic argument. What is the difference between vanilla, vanilla bean, and french vanilla ice cream? They are all basically the same, but one has visible vanilla bean seeds, and another has butter, but they really are pretty much the same damn things.
2. If it’s not too personal, may I ask how you discuss this topic with your children?
Well… This super racism in the streets stuff is not something that we have typically talked with them about, but we did bring up the BLM movement and other issues up with Little Man since they are directly precipitated by the rampant killing of black men and boys by police. He has started asking questions as well when things hit the news-cycle, so we explain it to him like he’s an adult since he is 14 now. With our daughter who is 9, we leave some details out but talk pretty straight with her as well.
Keep in mind that I am the big, dumb, white-guy part of this interracial coupleship that is my marriage. My wife, who works in and around these topics of racial disparity as one of the many topics of her work... she talks to the kids about race and how it affects who they are and how they are treated all the time.
Racism is definitely a topic that we talk about because it is a topic that effects our household directly. More often we end up talking about "race" than we do about "racism" but those 2 things really go hand in hand. You cannot talk about family in an interracial family without talking about race.
3. How do you do to increase diversity in an organization?
Very simple, you have to make it a core principle of the company and live by it. There is no way to prescribe it, but it needs to be taken into account when hiring. When I was in a hiring role, I kept in mind that I hear a bunch from white dudes all day, everyday, so that was something I was not looking for.
4. How is this happening in my country?
Sometimes the how is not as important a question as just acknowledging the fact that it is happening. It is currently happening, right now, even as I type this. Now we need to do something about it.
5. How can I let people know that not all white people are like this?
Don’t. This is not about you. Don’t make it about you. If you are white and you are good non-Nazi racist person who does everything right and doesn’t have an ounce of hate in your body, that is great, good on you, but shut the fuck up about how you are not like the Nazis. This is not about you and don’t try and make this about you. Shut up and listen and then ask how you can help. Don’t suggest, ask. Same goes for #NotAllMen
6. Heritage not hate! We should not destroy historical markers because we disagree with the history.
Okay… where do I start. These statues of Confederate generals do not commemorate the plight of the Southern way of life. They were not erected to remind people of the noble sacrifice that non-slave holding southerners made in defense of their idyllic antebellum way of life. Most were erected in the 1960’s and later in direct response to the racial tensions of the 1960’s as a way to remind black people in the south that a war was fought to ensure they remain the property of others. Hell the Virginia Confederate Battle Flag (the one everyone thinks of) was not a widely accepted symbol of Southern Pride until the 60’s. It was trotted back out as a reminder to black people specifically to know their place. I would add references to this stuff, but you can Google it your damn self.
7. How do we move forward from this?
Excellent question. BLM is a great resource. It is grassroots and the message there is that POC matter. Google where you live + BLM. Follow the lead of POC, white people need to assist where asked and offer to help everywhere. POC get to drive this train though, white peeps just need to keep adding fuel. Give to the NAACP or to the SPLC. I know that the ACLU seems to be persona non grata right now, but they are typically a good ally for rights, so they are a good place to donate as well.
8. Aren’t the alt-left just as bad as the Alt Right (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi)?
Nope, and that is what we call a false equivalency.
9. Why does the media come down so hard on the Alt Right (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) when they are so much more forgiving to the alt-left?
This is an interesting question. Number 1 it assumes that there is a group actually calling itself the alt-left. There is not. But let me try and grasp what it is you are asking about. I assume you are referring to the alt-left as BLM and Antifa… You remember the police presence and crack-down of the BLM demonstrations, right? Police in riot gear with automatic weapons and tanks to stop unarmed black people from protesting? Remember that? Or let’s go with Standing Rock. Unarmed peaceful Native American protest that was met with multiple riot squads and the national guard. Now… let’s look at the Alt Right (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) protest where a guerilla force showed up open carrying semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles and the participants were carrying clubs, weapons, and shields. Where was the police crack down on that. The second things went sour there should have been police to break it up. How did a Nazi get into his car and get close enough to a group of anti-protesters to kill one person and injure many others? No, the police went at the Alt Right (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) with kitten gloves.
“Antifa” means “Anti-Fascist” and is in a direct opposition of the fascist Nazi lovers out there. Where the Facist Alt Right (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) wants POC to not be, Antifa doesn’t want them to have that ability.
10. Aren’t these Alt Right (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) (Nazi) just a small but vocal minority?
The most virulent one are, but the sympathetic people are not. They are our neighbors, our co-workers, our classmates, some of our Facebook friends, our IRL friends, and even our family. Keep in mind that Germany in the 1940’s, it was the neighbors, co-workers, friends, classmates, and families that sent their neighbors, co-workers, friends, classmates and families to the gas-chambers and ovens. Not everyone actually dropped the gas pellets, but some people drove the trains.
11. OKAY SERIOUSLY I JUST READ ABOUT TRUMP’S PRESS CONFERENCE. FUCK THIS SHIT HE IS AN AVOWED RACIST AND IS INCITING THE NAZI ELEMENTS IN THIS COUNTRY. I SERIOUSLY THINK HE IS TRYING TO UNRAVEL THE COUNTRY. HE IS MADE OF RACIST DOG-WHISTLES AND UNEARNED CONFIDENCE. I’M DONE WITH THIS POST. SCREW THIS SHIT. I AM BEYOND ANGRY
12. What
13. The
14. Fuck?
15. I
16. Mean,
17. Who
18. Sides
19. With
20. Nazis?
To recap:
Only 10 question because I am so pissed
Rents were in town this weekend
Dad came walking in with a red ballcap with writing on it
The writing was not the MAGA slogan
Buuut it was slogan adjacent
Might have to have a chat with him about it this weekend
Because they are coming back this weekend
GOODAMN IT! MY PRESIDENT IS A OFFICIALLY A RACIST JACKASS
Before he was at least a “tended toward racist” and definitely a jackass
I am so incredibly angry
But I have work tomorrow
I will most likely have an interview for next week’s post
We are on question 20
Dumb work tomorrow
Getting in the way of my wanting to sit and stew at the repugnance of the executive branch of my government
Be nice to each other out there
Try and have a nice week everyone