- Moderator
- #301
Some do, because they're looking for any excuse to "see" it. Even if they have to make something up.I don't see how the first four could be considered racist
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I think there is a bit of a grey area - not necessarily because they're looking for any excuse to see it - though I agree that is certainly the case with some.
I think some people use more mainstream and acceptable statements as a way of legitimizing their views...they aren't really "racist" if they they just say one way. It's like I pointed out earlier - the way antisemites choose to phrase their statements as opposing Zionism instead of Jews. Certainly some are not antisemitic, but it's also become a cover for antisemites to legitimize their views in the mainstream.
It is also why INTENT matters, and intent isn't always so clear immediately.
For example, I'll go back to the birther controversy. Why was it so sustained with Obama, but put down pretty quickly with McCain? I think in some people there was a hidden unacknowledged fear that a black president would be just for black people, and that perhaps his election allowed uncertainty, fear, bigotry and even racism to bubble to the surface.
Another example could be the treatment of BlackLivesMatter which has been roundly demonized. As a group it has little control over what people do in it's name other then denouncing violence which it has. Yet has been denounced as racist and terrorists. It's goal is to bring attention to the number of unarmed black men killed by police gunfire. In several cases, police shot an unarmed man in very questionable circumstances. Compare the rhetoric and character assassination against the black "thugs" vs a similar incident - the FBI shooting of Finicum. Similar circumstances - but Finicum is not a white "thug" he is a patriot.