The last few years have been ones of constant turmoil in the English speaking world; BLM and reparations, the whole Trans phenomena, now the Hamas lovefest, whose Western cheerleaders wouldn’t last a day under the rather unenlightened rule of these barbaric murderers. The common themes amongst this mob hysteria are the unedifying cult of the victim, veneration of the self, where the protestors acquire an inflated high opinion of themselves through their imaginary moral superiority and some really fanatical, old-school anarchists, who want something other than the status quo. Only a small ‘c’ conservative revolution can save us.
It's interesting that anti Blackness is the foundation on which understanding racism is built but it seems like people think antagonism against Black people has ended? There's no "new Blackface"; just derivatives of it (ie jewface, yellow face, brown face). Black people are the blueprint and there have been no modifications. I think this comparison is a huge stretch.
I would say that the main reason white people couldnt co-opt BLM protests via racist posturing is because these were happening in real time with feedback on Twitter where Black people attempted to coordinate whites who wanted to participate. Additionally, BLM had no iconography to steal and there isn't anything culturally Black connected to BLM to co-opt. (I will say that I saw a critique that white anarchists were using BLM protests as cover to do property damage though).
I like everything else here but the Blackface thing is a no go.
Great points. I had another idea about the differing attitudes to cultural appropriation.
Imperialistic, evangelistic people want everyone to adopt their culture. It's more than ok with them, it's their goal.
Indigenous people and cultures not so much.
Thus the social justice warrior is fine with the keffiyeh but not the native headdress, and the Muslim is fine with the white guy in the keffiyeh, while the Native takes offense at the white guy in the feathered headdress.
Obviously – or it should be obvious to anyone who understands both the meaning of the term genocide and what is happening in Gaza – nothing remotely like genocide, in scope or intent, is happening to Palestinians. I invite you to read my post on this subject. https://pat604johnson.substack.com/p/the-genocide-libel
I am Palestinian, born in Palestine, and I am currently undergoing so much loss in Palestine. We lost 3 more people just yesterday. I agree with very much of what you wrote. I had to brace and continue reading and just try to mentally overcome my triggers for the rest. I think you have good intent with some of it - I also could not possibly tell you how incredibly wrong you are in others. It was quite offensive actually. Even barking up the tree of cultural appropriation, as it was written with such hubris & confidence - or rather MISappropriation.
If you want to understand what you can amend, or just learn or simply not offend people feel free to send me an email.
Hi Amal ... I just came to respond to your original message. I had a busy couple of days but had seen your message and waited only a few hours to come back to thank you for reading and offering to engage. I understand and appreciate your frustration and anger and I appreciate you taking the time to reach out. Your Insta tells me you are doing constructive, real things, rather than just condemning and posturing, which is what my posts criticize. If you would still like to engage, I would like to email you.
I look forward to your next post.
Keffiyahs seem to have become the status-conveying glue holding the whole performance together in some places.
So beautifully black-and-white for a generation a few years lagging in their ability to grasp complexity. A relief to signal belonging IRL...
The last few years have been ones of constant turmoil in the English speaking world; BLM and reparations, the whole Trans phenomena, now the Hamas lovefest, whose Western cheerleaders wouldn’t last a day under the rather unenlightened rule of these barbaric murderers. The common themes amongst this mob hysteria are the unedifying cult of the victim, veneration of the self, where the protestors acquire an inflated high opinion of themselves through their imaginary moral superiority and some really fanatical, old-school anarchists, who want something other than the status quo. Only a small ‘c’ conservative revolution can save us.
It's interesting that anti Blackness is the foundation on which understanding racism is built but it seems like people think antagonism against Black people has ended? There's no "new Blackface"; just derivatives of it (ie jewface, yellow face, brown face). Black people are the blueprint and there have been no modifications. I think this comparison is a huge stretch.
I would say that the main reason white people couldnt co-opt BLM protests via racist posturing is because these were happening in real time with feedback on Twitter where Black people attempted to coordinate whites who wanted to participate. Additionally, BLM had no iconography to steal and there isn't anything culturally Black connected to BLM to co-opt. (I will say that I saw a critique that white anarchists were using BLM protests as cover to do property damage though).
I like everything else here but the Blackface thing is a no go.
White people. Some of them are absolute fuckwits. I am white. I am not a fuckwit.
Damn that’s good. Wish I could heart it ten times.
Great points. I had another idea about the differing attitudes to cultural appropriation.
Imperialistic, evangelistic people want everyone to adopt their culture. It's more than ok with them, it's their goal.
Indigenous people and cultures not so much.
Thus the social justice warrior is fine with the keffiyeh but not the native headdress, and the Muslim is fine with the white guy in the keffiyeh, while the Native takes offense at the white guy in the feathered headdress.
Obviously – or it should be obvious to anyone who understands both the meaning of the term genocide and what is happening in Gaza – nothing remotely like genocide, in scope or intent, is happening to Palestinians. I invite you to read my post on this subject. https://pat604johnson.substack.com/p/the-genocide-libel
I am Palestinian, born in Palestine, and I am currently undergoing so much loss in Palestine. We lost 3 more people just yesterday. I agree with very much of what you wrote. I had to brace and continue reading and just try to mentally overcome my triggers for the rest. I think you have good intent with some of it - I also could not possibly tell you how incredibly wrong you are in others. It was quite offensive actually. Even barking up the tree of cultural appropriation, as it was written with such hubris & confidence - or rather MISappropriation.
If you want to understand what you can amend, or just learn or simply not offend people feel free to send me an email.
amal@FedUpForPalestine.org.
OKAY! Nevermind! You actually know NOTHING about Palestine, Israel, and frankly - I think you are schitzophrenic.
FREE PALESTINE FROM THE VICE GRIPS OF THE PLUNDERING WESTERN BRAINLESSNESS!
Hi Amal ... I just came to respond to your original message. I had a busy couple of days but had seen your message and waited only a few hours to come back to thank you for reading and offering to engage. I understand and appreciate your frustration and anger and I appreciate you taking the time to reach out. Your Insta tells me you are doing constructive, real things, rather than just condemning and posturing, which is what my posts criticize. If you would still like to engage, I would like to email you.