When Everyone Is a Racist, No One Is

 

Recently at work, we had a town hall discussion about racism and BLM. Of course, all opinions were welcome as along as the opinion toed the party line. Anything outside that narrow window was shouted down. But that’s a discussion for a different day (or maybe not… I’m tired of it all). During the discussion one person posited:

“People are getting defensive about being called a racist. While it is certainly true that there is systemic, institutional racism [Editors note: this of course goes without saying, and goes unquestioned], that doesn’t mean everyone is a racist. There are things we need to improve.”

This was not good enough for another co-worker:

“NO!! EVERYONE is a racist! We are all racists!”

This was met with applause and commendation.

This got me thinking: If we are all racists, then what value does it mean to call someone out as a racist? Why should someone be punished specially for making racist remarks. Look, he’s no better or worse than the rest of us – we are all racist, we are all tainted. Why should anyone be fired or called for making racist remarks? We all harbor that kind of hate inside of us.

By proclaiming that everyone is a racist, we have cheapened truly offensive remarks, and normalized truly hateful people. When everyone is a racist, then no one is….

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  1. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    How depressing.

    They don’t actually mean that everyone is a racist.  They mean that every white person is a racist.

    It is plainly a black supremacist ideology.  It is horrid in itself, and it’s very strange that many white people seem to go along with it.  I think that there is something very, very wrong with a lot of people.

    • #1
  2. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    This was why I was so irritated when the left tried to redefine rape as nearly any heterosexual sex.  It turned actual rape into a simple misunderstanding, rather than a capital crime.

    • #2
  3. WI Con Member
    WI Con
    @WICon

    I’m dreading the inevitable “conversation” we’ll be forced to endure at work. I think the only reason it hasn’t happened yet is because the offices are still empty due to Covid-19. We get enough insipid screen savers and emails, so it is somewhat avoidable.

    I honestly don’t know how I’ll react when the encounter groups do get scheduled. 

    I am in no mood for this horse crap.

     

    • #3
  4. Goldgeller Member
    Goldgeller
    @Goldgeller

    Agree with OP. It is a disingenuous definition of racism and entirely counterproductive for social cohesion. 

    I’ll come at it from a different direction.  The problem with arguments that suggest systemic racism is everywhere and infects everything is that it cedes way to much to racists. The ordinary forms of behavior that lead to education, prosperity, and social respectability in the US are not in any meaningful sense  white or white supremacist. And it bothers me that people (often liberals, both black and white) are so willing to just nod along to horrible statements suggesting otherwise. 

    • #4
  5. Douglas Pratt Coolidge
    Douglas Pratt
    @DouglasPratt

    When they say, “We are all racists!” what they mean is, “Especially YOU!”

    • #5
  6. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    This was why I was so irritated when the left tried to redefine rape as nearly any heterosexual sex. It turned actual rape into a simple misunderstanding, rather than a capital crime.

    Ah, I see that you’re a troglodyte like me, Doc.  Rape is not a capital crime.  It’s actually unconstitutional to impose the death penalty for rape.  Even for the aggravated rape of one’s 8-year-old stepdaughter.  That’s Kennedy v. Louisiana, a 2008 SCOTUS case.

    Justice Kennedy explained that: “Evolving standards of decency must embrace and express respect for the dignity of the person.” 

    So, if you think that the death penalty should be applied to rape, you do not embrace and respect the dignity of the person, and you have failed to keep up with those ever-evolving standards of decency.

    Sorry to vent.  I am so fed up with this Leftist and Wokeist and feminist nonsense.

    • #6
  7. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    This was why I was so irritated when the left tried to redefine rape as nearly any heterosexual sex. It turned actual rape into a simple misunderstanding, rather than a capital crime.

    Ah, I see that you’re a troglodyte like me, Doc. Rape is not a capital crime

    Ok. 

    Well guess what.   If you rape one of my daughters, you’d better pray that you get a life sentence.  Because if you EVER get out of prison, rape will instantly become a capital crime.  In your case, at least. 

    A jury will probably convict me of murder.  Which IS a capital crime.  Or perhaps they won’t.  Hard to say. 

    But I don’t care. 

    Then again, I probably don’t need to explain this to a fellow troglodyte. 

    I’ll wait here for @bossmongo to criticize my lack of respect for constitutional law…

    • #7
  8. Jim McConnell Member
    Jim McConnell
    @JimMcConnell

    I can’t decide whether it is grounded in self-hate or virtue-signalling; they would seem to be mutually exclusive, but in my mind they seem to be both present in that kind of thinking.

    • #8
  9. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    This was why I was so irritated when the left tried to redefine rape as nearly any heterosexual sex. It turned actual rape into a simple misunderstanding, rather than a capital crime.

    Ah, I see that you’re a troglodyte like me, Doc. Rape is not a capital crime

    Ok.

    Well guess what. If you rape one of my daughters, you’d better pray that you get a life sentence. Because if you EVER get out of prison, rape will instantly become a capital crime. In your case, at least.

    A jury will probably convict me of murder. Which IS a capital crime. Or perhaps they won’t. Hard to say.

    But I don’t care.

    Then again, I probably don’t need to explain this to a fellow troglodyte.

    I’ll wait here for @bossmongo to criticize my lack of respect for constitutional law…

    I actually think that rape should not be a capital crime, but only for prudential reasons.  As bad as it is, I still want there to be an additional increment of penalty to discourage the criminal from killing the victim.  But my personal inclination is in the same direction as yours.  They can call us troglodytes.  I prefer Optimates, except that it’s probably too pretentious.  Maybe something like Goodfellas.

    • #9
  10. Dr. Bastiat Member
    Dr. Bastiat
    @drbastiat

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…

    Dr. Bastiat (View Comment):

    This was why I was so irritated when the left tried to redefine rape as nearly any heterosexual sex. It turned actual rape into a simple misunderstanding, rather than a capital crime.

    Ah, I see that you’re a troglodyte like me, Doc. Rape is not a capital crime

    Ok.

    Well guess what. If you rape one of my daughters, you’d better pray that you get a life sentence. Because if you EVER get out of prison, rape will instantly become a capital crime. In your case, at least.

    A jury will probably convict me of murder. Which IS a capital crime. Or perhaps they won’t. Hard to say.

    But I don’t care.

    Then again, I probably don’t need to explain this to a fellow troglodyte.

    I’ll wait here for @bossmongo to criticize my lack of respect for constitutional law…

    I actually think that rape should not be a capital crime, but only for prudential reasons. As bad as it is, I still want there to be an additional increment of penalty to discourage the criminal from killing the victim. But my personal inclination is in the same direction as yours. They can call us troglodytes. I prefer Optimates, except that it’s probably too pretentious. Maybe something like Goodfellas.

    That’s me.  I’m not a troglodyte.  I’m a Goodfella.

    • #10
  11. Bullwinkle Member
    Bullwinkle
    @Bullwinkle

    Jim McConnell (View Comment):

    I can’t decide whether it is grounded in self-hate or virtue-signalling; they would seem to be mutually exclusive, but in my mind they seem to be both present in that kind of thinking.

    That’s a really good point and I think you are right – there is some self preservation/virtue signalling (look at me, I’m good, dont attack me!), and some element of self-hate/guilt. Either way, I also think it leads to becoming a true believer. That is, I think at this point they REALLY believe what they are saying. 

    • #11
  12. Housebroken Coolidge
    Housebroken
    @Chuckles

    WI Con (View Comment):

    I’m dreading the inevitable “conversation” we’ll be forced to endure at work. I think the only reason it hasn’t happened yet is because the offices are still empty due to Covid-19. We get enough insipid screen savers and emails, so it is somewhat avoidable.

    I honestly don’t know how I’ll react when the encounter groups do get scheduled.

    I am in no mood for this horse crap.

     

    So glad – so very very glad I’m retired and don’t have to put up with this stuff.  Had enough problems keeping quiet in training when the issue was simply sexism.

    • #12
  13. Kephalithos Member
    Kephalithos
    @Kephalithos

    Bullwinkle: This was not good enough for another co-worker:

    “NO!! EVERYONE is a racist! We are all racists!”

    This was met with applause and commendation.

    It’s almost as if . . . as if they treat it as a badge of honor.

    It reminds me of those Christians who seem to draw satisfaction and a sense of superiority from the very act of identifying themselves as sinners.

    • #13
  14. The Scarecrow Thatcher
    The Scarecrow
    @TheScarecrow

    Especially when they say that we are born racists, that it’s inescapable.

    Then why the hell are we fighting it?  If it’s human nature, why are we so vigorously denying it – like a self-hating homosexual?

    Accept it, embrace it. Roll your eyes with a “Well Duh!” if somebody points out that you are one.

    Then continue working to support a place where all of us natural born racists can work out a way, finally, after tens of thousands of years of world history, that we can try to live amongst each other in peace.

    That place we call America.

    God bless Her.

    • #14
  15. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    We are all guilty of pre-thoughtcrime. 

    • #15
  16. Al French of Damascus Moderator
    Al French of Damascus
    @AlFrench

    Housebroken (View Comment):

    WI Con (View Comment):

    I’m dreading the inevitable “conversation” we’ll be forced to endure at work. I think the only reason it hasn’t happened yet is because the offices are still empty due to Covid-19. We get enough insipid screen savers and emails, so it is somewhat avoidable.

    I honestly don’t know how I’ll react when the encounter groups do get scheduled.

    I am in no mood for this horse crap.

     

    So glad – so very very glad I’m retired and don’t have to put up with this stuff. Had enough problems keeping quiet in training when the issue was simply sexism.

    Ditto.

    • #16
  17. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    What kind of “work” justifies a “town hall” discussion on this topic?

    That’s rhetorical.  I’m not looking for personal info, but it’s still mind-boggling to me.

    • #17
  18. Tree Rat Inactive
    Tree Rat
    @RichardFinlay

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    What kind of “work” justifies a “town hall” discussion on this topic?

    That’s rhetorical. I’m not looking for personal info, but it’s still mind-boggling to me.

    The kind of work where HR has been staffed by young women (almost entirely) who want to be relevant in their power positions.

    Other than that, enough free time and conference rooms ….

    • #18
  19. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Tree Rat (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    What kind of “work” justifies a “town hall” discussion on this topic?

    That’s rhetorical. I’m not looking for personal info, but it’s still mind-boggling to me.

    The kind of work where HR has been staffed by young women (almost entirely) who want to be relevant in their power positions.

    Other than that, enough free time and conference rooms ….

    Zoom meetings mean there’s always a conference room available. 

    • #19
  20. MichaelKennedy Inactive
    MichaelKennedy
    @MichaelKennedy

    “I am so old that I remember when most racists were white.”

    Thomas Sowell.  Age 90.

    • #20
  21. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    It’s probably not safe to answer such idiocy with questions, but it’s tempting:

    “So, that means African Americans are all racists too? Should I be worried about my white son being arrested by a black cop, even if he committed a crime and deserves arrest? How about Asian Americans? Are they fragile when we notice their kids outperform our white kids in college?”

    It’s Alinsky-time. Make them live up to their own rules. 

    • #21
  22. Richard Fulmer Inactive
    Richard Fulmer
    @RichardFulmer

    So, my five grandchildren whose ages range between 1 and 4 years are all racist.  Are there degrees of racism?  Is there any way in which to distinguish my grandchildren from, say, Adolf Hitler?

    • #22
  23. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Richard Fulmer (View Comment):

    So, my five grandchildren whose ages range between 1 and 4 years are all racist. Are there degrees of racism? Is there any way in which to distinguish my grandchildren from, say, Adolf Hitler?

    Due to advances in Racial Studies across America, we can now measure in pico-aggressions. 

    • #23
  24. Paul Stinchfield Member
    Paul Stinchfield
    @PaulStinchfield

    Bullwinkle: Recently at work, we had a town hall discussion about racism and BLM. Of course, all opinions were welcome as along as the opinion toed the party line.

    That’s a very effective way to do lasting harm to a company.

    • #24
  25. Goldgeller Member
    Goldgeller
    @Goldgeller

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    It’s probably not safe to answer such idiocy with questions, but it’s tempting:

    “So, that means African Americans are all racists too? Should I be worried about my white son being arrested by a black cop, even if he committed a crime and deserves arrest? How about Asian Americans? Are they fragile when we notice their kids outperform our white kids in college?”

    It’s Alinsky-time. Make them live up to their own rules.

    I don’t think the Alinsky approach will work like that. I’ll repeat and argument I don’t agree with, just to illustrate why. To be clear, the counter argument is upsetting, shortsighted, and counter-productive, but if you bring this up they will dismiss it because a very popular theory on racism is that it requires privilege and power.

    This is very subtle and important because, if pushed, a liberal doesn’t have to deny that out-group animus is generic. (Which undercuts the “Alinsky rules” dynamic.) They will claim you are missing their point. Non-white out-groups don’t have the power to affect outcomes like whites do. Even if there is evidence that brown and POC groups don’t get along, they aren’t “using” any “systemic” or “structural” elements in their disagreements. So it isn’t racism (not “racism” racism anyways). 

    I believe I’ve tried to fairly restate the argument. I don’t like the argument. But I’ve tried to fairly restate it. 

    • #25
  26. TBA Coolidge
    TBA
    @RobtGilsdorf

    Goldgeller (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    It’s probably not safe to answer such idiocy with questions, but it’s tempting:

    “So, that means African Americans are all racists too? Should I be worried about my white son being arrested by a black cop, even if he committed a crime and deserves arrest? How about Asian Americans? Are they fragile when we notice their kids outperform our white kids in college?”

    It’s Alinsky-time. Make them live up to their own rules.

    I don’t think the Alinsky approach will work like that. I’ll repeat and argument I don’t agree with, just to illustrate why. To be clear, the counter argument is upsetting, shortsighted, and counter-productive, but if you bring this up they will dismiss it because a very popular theory on racism is that it requires privilege and power.

    This is very subtle and important because, if pushed, a liberal doesn’t have to deny that out-group animus is generic. (Which undercuts the “Alinsky rules” dynamic.) They will claim you are missing their point. Non-white out-groups don’t have the power to affect outcomes like whites do. Even if there is evidence that brown and POC groups don’t get along, they aren’t “using” any “systemic” or “structural” elements in their disagreements. So it isn’t racism (not “racism” racism anyways).

    I believe I’ve tried to fairly restate the argument. I don’t like the argument. But I’ve tried to fairly restate it.

    That’s how I understand neo-racism as well. It also cannot be falsified, and thus can be dismissed out of hand. 

    • #26
  27. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    We (county public library) are having a series of “conversations on race to provide an opportunity for all library staff to talk about personal and national reactions to the killing of George Floyd and so many other people of color at the hands of the police” (copied from the email announcement). I attended one the other day, lurking but not participating via Microsoft Teams. I texted the interesting bits to Mr. Charlotte as it went on. There were about 17 participants of whom two were black women, one was a white man, and the rest were white women. All of these are verbatim:

    “This is not only a safe space, it is also a brave space.” [white lady moderating the meeting]

    “We’ve gone backwards 200 years in our race relations in this country!” [older black woman] Mr. Charlotte texted back (to me), “I wonder what a black person living in Fairfax County in 1820 would think about that statement made by a black person literally getting paid to attend meetings on race relations.”

    “Where do we go from here? How can we as a group heal this broken world?” [younger white woman]

    “One of the things we can do is just be good Christians to each other.” [older black woman] #IntersectionalityFail

    “I think we have to start with acknowledging that libraries are built on white supremacy. American libraries started out segregated and those policies and cataloging have not changed dramatically.” [middle aged white lady]

    Your tax dollars at work, Northern Virginia! You’re welcome.

    • #27
  28. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Charlotte (View Comment):

    We (county public library) are having a series of “conversations on race to provide an opportunity for all library staff to talk about personal and national reactions to the killing of George Floyd and so many other people of color at the hands of the police” (copied from the email announcement). I attended one the other day, lurking but not participating via Microsoft Teams. I texted the interesting bits to Mr. Charlotte as it went on. There were about 17 participants of whom two were black women, one was a white man, and the rest were white women. All of these are verbatim:

    “This is not only a safe space, it is also a brave space.” [white lady moderating the meeting]

    “We’ve gone backwards 200 years in our race relations in this country!” [older black woman] Mr. Charlotte texted back (to me), “I wonder what a black person living in Fairfax County in 1820 would think about that statement made by a black person literally getting paid to attend meetings on race relations.”

    “Where do we go from here? How can we as a group heal this broken world?” [younger white woman]

    “One of the things we can do is just be good Christians to each other.” [older black woman] #IntersectionalityFail

    “I think we have to start with acknowledging that libraries are built on white supremacy. American libraries started out segregated and those policies and cataloging have not changed dramatically.” [middle aged white lady]

    Your tax dollars at work, Northern Virginia! You’re welcome.

    Ack!

    • #28
  29. Bullwinkle Member
    Bullwinkle
    @Bullwinkle

    Douglas Pratt (View Comment):

    When they say, “We are all racists!” what they mean is, “Especially YOU!”

    Yes, I wanted to ask the person who asserted this: “So you are a racist?”

    • #29
  30. Bullwinkle Member
    Bullwinkle
    @Bullwinkle

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    What kind of “work” justifies a “town hall” discussion on this topic?

    That’s rhetorical. I’m not looking for personal info, but it’s still mind-boggling to me.

    Oh so many companies today believe it their duty to make this part of work. I do my best to ignore it, but its very tough

    • #30
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