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As most people here know, I'm a staunch progressive, and have a very low opinion of the Republican Party and Tea Parties. That said, I think that the frequent accusations of racism against them have an overall negative effect. The reasons for such accusations are not quite as simple or arbitrary as Republicans have portrayed them ("They're just calling us racist because we oppose a black man!") but they are still rather misguided and mistaken. The issues that lead a lot of people to believe that the Tea Parties, Republicans, or both are racist are real, but the way they're discussed can be a bit problematic at times, and can lead to problems in rational discourse. Here are eight reasons not to be too quick in calling Republicans and Tea Partiers racist:
1: It's not necessarily true. Even if you believe that the TPs are thoroughly racist, I doubt you truly believe that every single member is racist, so unless someone is actually saying or doing something racist, it's usually best to hold back unless there's a concrete reason for the accusation.
2: It sours discussion. Even if true, an accusation of racism can turn a good discussion around and lead to general namecalling. I'm not saying that actual incidents should be ignored, just that one should be careful in how it is presented and make sure it's well-supported.
3: It's difficult to prove. Unless someone goes around in white robes shouting "I HAIT NIGARZ!!!!" it's difficult to prove conclusively that someone is a racist, as they usually have plausible deniability. If someone makes a racially provocative or discriminatory comment, it is easily denied or brushed away by railing against "political correctness". To someone who doesn't want to believe that a certain person is racist, it's easy to ignore signs of prejudice.
4: Outright racism is different from racial prejudice, stereotypes, and apathy. Someone who holds negative views of blacks or who feels threatened by blacks isn't necessarily the same as someone who hates blacks and wants them as servants or dead. It's obviously still a negative, but it's not quite the same. Also, apathy towards racism and racial prejudice is another problem. People who turn a blind eye to racial discrimination, both in past and present, are a part of the problem as well. True racism is very rare in most places now days, including the Tea Parties, but from my observations there are still a fair number (though not neccessarily all or even most) who believe negative stereotypes about blacks or feel threatened by blacks, and there are many more who will turn a blind eye to this. There should be focus on those elements rather than attempts to condemn the whole movement as racist.
5: It dilutes the effect of well-supported accusations. When accusations of racism are frequent, it's easy for actual racists and people with racial prejudice to dismiss solid criticism, often by making mention of "the race card" (I call this technique the "race card card"). By narrowing the focus and being more specific, criticism regarding racial prejudice has a much greater impact.
6: It allows the other side to act as victims. Self-explanatory really. Republicans will act outraged and offended by the accusation and portray the other side as a bunch of bullies, even if they have done the same type of thing. It's simply not good politics to give them extra ammunition.
7: It means we're lowering ourselves to their level. Part of the reason many call Republicans/Tea Partiers racist is the natural human instinct to believe the worst of opponents. Though there are some real concerns regarding the Tea Parties and racial prejudice, sometimes the reasons behind accusations are more about demonization than the real concerns. It's not much better than Republican and Tea Party accusations of socialism/communism/nazism/whatever.
8: It's unnecessary. There are so many better things to criticize the Tea Parties and Republicans for. To name a few: the conspiracy theories, the faulty understanding of many key issues, the hyperbole, the "creative interperetation" of Democratic proposals, the fear mongering, the pettiness, the hypocrisy, and the grown men dressing up like the statue of liberty. I personally don't need to believe them racist to have a low opinion of the Tea Parties and Republicans.
I'm not saying that the racial element should be completely ignored. Obviously there is a racial aspect to some of the current conservative movement, and it's not just isolated incidents. That said, it's also not the sole reason the opposition exists, and putting too much emphasis on it isn't a wise move.
Nowadays, debates are quickly hijacked by the loudest morons coming from all sides of the political spectrum.
You won't stop people from calling the Tea Party racist but it doesn't mean grown ups can't have nice conversations with reasonable well-meaning people despite all the noise and the mud flying.
4: Outright racism is different from racial prejudice, stereotypes, and apathy. Someone who holds negative views of blacks or who feels threatened by blacks isn't necessarily the same as someone who hates blacks and wants them as servants or dead. It's obviously still a negative, but it's not quite the same.
You can be racist and not want anyone to be dead or servants. Racism just means that you view another race as inferior. Doesn't necessarily have to include hate, though it often does. Some White seperatists simply want to live apart from Blacks, have no desire to hurt them or enslave them. Are they not racist?
Last edited by Holdencaulfield; 05-25-2010 at 10:40 AM..
Isn't it amazing how the human animal is ever so quick to label or classify someone.
Watermelon Rat immediatly labels Tea Party with Republicians.
In case you would take the time to look, there are republicians, democrates,independants, Liberals, conservatives, ect in the tea party movement.
It is a cross section of Americans that are tired of Government screwing us at every turn.
4: Outright racism is different from racial prejudice, stereotypes, and apathy. Someone who holds negative views of blacks or who feels threatened by blacks isn't necessarily the same as someone who hates blacks and wants them as servants or dead. It's obviously still a negative, but it's not quite the same.
You can be racist and not want anyone to be dead or servants. Racism just means that you view another race as inferior. Doesn't necessarily have to include hate, though it often does. Some White seperatists simply want to live apart from Blacks, have no desire to hurt them or enslave them. Are they not racist?[/quote]
Right, that's what I meant, sorry. I meant "view as inferior" when I said that. I was referring to people who might not consider a certain group to be inferior or worth inherent hatred, but who might believe negative stereotypes or feel unusually threatened by them. Obviously this is still a very negative position, but I feel it necessary to distinguish between the various types of racial animosities in some way. Grouping someone who thinks that blacks all love fried chicken and someone who wants blacks to be enslaved together makes the term rather unspecific.
2: It sours discussion. Even if true, an accusation of racism can turn a good discussion around and lead to general namecalling. I'm not saying that actual incidents should be ignored, just that one should be careful in how it is presented and make sure it's well-supported.
I think you hit the nail on the head here. IMO, most of the people that accuse the TP of racism are doing so to dismiss them and avoid a real discussion of the problems and concerns the TP has brought up. It's much easier to scream "racist" than to address the problem of out of control government spending, 10%+ unemployment, 40+% of the population paying no income tax, rising dependency on government programs, etc.
Good post,and some good points.
I actually think the left is hurting itself when they accuse tea-party folks of racism.
It actually creates a backlash against the Left.
Are there some racists in the tea-party?of course.but i ask this if you put hundreds..
Of people in room,wouldnt there be racists there as well?
The Race card is simply a way to discredit and shut people up.
Only being a murderer or child-toucher is thought of as worse than a racist in our society.
Isn't it amazing how the human animal is ever so quick to label or classify someone.
Watermelon Rat immediatly labels Tea Party with Republicians.
In case you would take the time to look, there are republicians, democrates,independants, Liberals, conservatives, ect in the tea party movement.
It is a cross section of Americans that are tired of Government screwing us at every turn.
I know they're not identical to Republicans, but don't kid yourself, they share most of the same ideology as Republicans, are obvious conservatives, and sprouted up almost as soon as Obama was sworn in. Since my intent with this was to attempt to mellow out the political discourse, I'll refrain from further comment, but I will say that you'd have to be pretty persuasive to convince me that the Tea Parties aren't strongly associated with Republicans (which was the reason I used the term here: both Republicans and Tea Partiers are frequently on the receiving end of criticism over alleged racial views, and I think it has a negative effect on rational discussion).
It is a cross section of Americans that are tired of Government screwing us at every turn.
Good point!Did you know 30-40% of Tea party folks are Dems?[/quote]
I've seen the figures before (don't have time to do a search right now), and I don't think it's that high. Usually Dems and Independents get grouped together.
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