“That Conversation about Race” category archive
American Establishmentarism 0
Thom talks with Tim Alberta about how the confluence of bad history and bad theology are feeding American establishmentarianism.
This is well worth the few minutes it will take to listen to it.
The Invading Horde 0
But the folks in Eagle Pass, Texas, say the invaders are not who you might think they are. Here’s a tiny bit from the story:
(snip)
While local residents with the Eagle Pass Border Coalition told reporters and supporters that they of course welcome all visitors to the community who respect their culture and diversity in a civil manner, they believe the recent arrival of Republican governors and a trucker convoy of Christian nationalists in support of Abbott’s violent rhetoric helped to spread “hate and descension” in their community over the weekend.
A Notion of Immigrants 0
As the Founders feared might happen, this “nation of immigrants” now has a political party that values power over the polity and faction over the federation.
A Notion of Immigrants 0
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski is shocked, shocked! I say, to find out that her party is the party of perfidy.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Charles M. Blow sees a pattern repeating itself:
He explains his reasons for fearing that at the link.
Untruth in Labeling 0
At the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mary Pezzulo struggles to understand why self-proclaimed “conservatives” embrace Donald Trump. A snippet:
A Notion of Immigrants 0
Jackie Calmes reminds us that, when you points a finger at someone else, three fingers point back at you.
Republican Thought Police 0
At the Tampa Bay Times, the past president, current president, and incoming president of the American Sociological Association take strong exception to Florida’s decision to remove sociology from the list of “core” courses at Florida universities.
I commend their article to your attention.
Afterthought:
I am a strong believer in the value of sociology as a field of study. I majored in history, as I’ve mentioned before in these electrons, but, had my college given minors, I had more than enough credits for a minor in sociology.
History teaches how we got where we are. Sociology teaches us to understand how where we are functions, plus it sheds light on the workings of the where-we-came-froms.
But, of course, racists and bigots (and fascists and wannabe dictators) don’t want you to understand, or you’ll see through their game.
A Critique of Poor Reason 0
At the Kansas City Star, Melinda Henneberger takes on what may be the looniest right-wing conspiracy theory since pizzagate: That the Kansas City Chiefs and Taylor Swift tools of Joe Biden. She wonders
. . . But how will Chiefs Kingdom push back against the slander that their wins aren’t real?
I think you will find her article a worthy and entertaining read.
Chaos Agents, a Notion of Immigrants Dept. 0
E. J. Montini points out the obvious. Donald Trump and his dupes, symps, and fellow travelers exacerbate problems, not solve them (emphasis added).
A bipartisan deal to address the border problem is the best thing for the country.
But it is the worst thing for Donald Trump . . . .
They want the chaos. They need the chaos. And Speaker Johnson goes along. These are Republicans putting Trump over party, and then putting party over country.
Follow the link for the evidence.
“The Godfather” 0
Chauncey de Vega argues that Donald Trump is analogous to the boss of a crime organization whose followers are loyal to him and him only. Here’s just a tiny little from his essay.
Furthermore, there is large base of support for authoritarian and fascist politics in the United States. Many Americans are strongly attracted to political strongmen autocrats willing to “bend the rules” in order to “get things done” for “people like them.”
Negative and affective partisanship — meaning a situation when a political party or movement becomes someone’s primary identity, creating an us-versus-them worldview in which the other side is not just wrong but evil — along with asymmetrical polarization, white identity politics and racism, misogyny, and hostility toward sexual or gender minorities also contribute greatly to Trump’s persistent levels of support.
The whole thing is a relatively long read, but it is worth it.
Still Rising Again after All These Years. 0
Michael Paul Williams visits a museum and explores America’s first and arguably biggest “big lie.”
(Broken link fixed.)
A Notion of Immigrants 0
LZ Granderson tries to understand the appeal of Texas Governor Abbott’s pursuit mean for the sake of mean to the Texas electorate which keeps him in office.
The short answer is: most Texas voters, because he’s been in office since 2015. The economy is strong, and the cost of living is relatively low. Most important, the same traits that make him notorious across blue America keep him in power here in the Lone Star State.
Now, if “racism” popped in your head, you’re not all wrong.
But it’s not the full story. And that’s where progressives tend to go wrong.
Follow the link for Granderson’s take on the “full story.”
A Notion of Immigrants 0
Methinks Atrios makes an excellent point or two.