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BaronChocula

(2,537 posts)
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 01:10 PM Oct 2024

A simple request going forward

I’ve never seen in any post on this site comments such as:
“White people should know by now the republican party is not on their side.”
“White people who vote republican will get what they deserve.”
“I don’t know how white people can vote for republicans.”
“When will whites learn that the republican party hates them?”

I have seen countless posts with similar comments regarding slivers of minority groups that may tend to vote for the rapist. Please stop, especially if you aren’t part of that community.

We seem to accept it as a part of life that white Americans are politically split. That somehow seems normal to us. But for some reason, many expect darker folks in America to be a more united political front and get indignant when it doesn’t happen.

So here lies the meat of the ask. If you don’t demand your own community to be a monolith, stop expecting other communities to be a monolith to make up for it. It’s completely hypocritical and hypocrisy is one of the pillars of racism. Even though it’s not done out of malice, it still makes things a little less welcoming around here.

Yes, I realize the shallow appeals the republican party makes to white people and how some Whites fall for those appeals. I know this is the expansion of the Southern Strategy that was begun by republicans to welcome southern Democratic bigots into their tent. I know how racial politicking works. Remember, republicans also make shallow appeals that attract certain nonwhites. In both cases it’s just a fact of life that we have to deal with, even through the frustration of these last few days of the Election.

Thank you for understanding.

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A simple request going forward (Original Post) BaronChocula Oct 2024 OP
Hmmmmm....... H2O Man Oct 2024 #1
I'm gay MannyS Oct 2024 #2
And I recommend not voting for Republicans for any reason. planetc Oct 2024 #4
What a thoughtful post. And civil. planetc Oct 2024 #3
Thank you, I appreciate that BaronChocula Oct 2024 #9
I have seen statements like that on DU. TwilightZone Oct 2024 #5
Amen and thank you BaronChocula Oct 2024 #8
Excellent reminder/observation. MLAA Oct 2024 #6
Thank you! BaronChocula Oct 2024 #10
Well I've certainly said things like TBF Oct 2024 #7
I appreciate that! BaronChocula Oct 2024 #11

H2O Man

(76,147 posts)
1. Hmmmmm.......
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 01:21 PM
Oct 2024

The maga cult appeals to white christian nationalists because they think it benefits them. That is discussed here frequently, including comments about how they are stupid. I think I've called it "fucking stupid." Accurately so, in fact.

The sociopathic felon does not care about them, beyond their donating to him. The only group that is correct in the reasons thay they support him is the opulently wealthy class. Well, maybe half of the self-identified marxists who think they want the country to go up in flames. (The other half being FBI agents.)

The sociopathic felon has ranted about "black jobs." Hence, I think it is as fair to question how anyone could fall for that. This is just my opinion. While I respect what you wrote, and agree in part, I'm fine with others expressing their opinions.

MannyS

(19 posts)
2. I'm gay
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 01:32 PM
Oct 2024

and I absolutely deride other gay people who support Republicans in any form and I welcome other non gay people to do so as well.

planetc

(8,407 posts)
4. And I recommend not voting for Republicans for any reason.
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 01:39 PM
Oct 2024

As a party, they have covered themselves in shame for supporting their candidate beyond 1/6/21. They will need a new party before I consider supporting their persistent anti-Americanism.

planetc

(8,407 posts)
3. What a thoughtful post. And civil.
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 01:36 PM
Oct 2024

When you called such thinking hypocritical, I thought: "Also sloppy." I have always thought it was my duty as a citizen and as a moral person to greet every person I meet as a human being first, and everything else second, or third, or fourth, etc. Also, the constant request to define myself on questionnaires as White, or whatever else, is silly. Will the day come when I have to ID myself as a pink Dutch, Welsh, and German American? Where will this end?

I think we were never asked to identify our "racial" background until someone in government wanted to track our prejudices, and maybe do something to soften the effects. Unfortunately, you can't legislate morality, only behavior.

BaronChocula

(2,537 posts)
9. Thank you, I appreciate that
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 04:08 PM
Oct 2024


And I roll my eyes every time I have to fill out ethnic background on the zillions of forms were faced with this world.

TwilightZone

(28,835 posts)
5. I have seen statements like that on DU.
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 01:40 PM
Oct 2024

Not in those exact words, perhaps, but the sentiment's the same.

It's usually in the form of stereotypes and in the context of Trump's support by, say, rural white voters or white women. A couple of examples: Why would the former vote for a billionaire who is against their own interests? Why would the latter vote for anyone who wants an abortion ban? Just examples, but you get the idea.

It's not as overt, so it's probably not as noticeable, and it is definitely not as prevalent. That, of course, is part of your point.

I agree with your underlying sentiment entirely. Blaming Trump on any one group or lumping them all together is misguided and wrong. So is assuming that we understand the issues that are important to them.

The reality behind it is that we think we understand the motivation of voters and groups of voters, but we really have no clue. We project what we think should be the priorities of any given group (usually, exactly the same as our own or a vague concept of what we think they consider important) and then try to lump them all together into nice, neat little boxes.

It's human nature, I guess, but that doesn't make it any more appropriate. It's often considered to be the purview of the right, but we're definitely not immune.

BaronChocula

(2,537 posts)
8. Amen and thank you
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 04:00 PM
Oct 2024

There are so many other points I could have made, but I didn't want to drown the point. Your comment helps to explain further.

The behavior in question is totally what we call "human nature." But I think that's an oxymoron. I see the point of humanity as acting beyond one's nature or "impulses." Or at least evaluating our impulses before we act.

I recall a recent post which elicited a lot of that "I don't know why x people would vote republican" comments. One member, I wish I could remember who responded "That's what Trump said about how Jews should vote. Be better." And that's my point here. We're humans and we can be better.

MLAA

(18,863 posts)
6. Excellent reminder/observation.
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 01:52 PM
Oct 2024

I often think to myself why the hell would women vote for republicans. What I should have been thinking is why the hell white women vote Republican. Black women have saved us time and time again. Thanks for the reminder.

BaronChocula

(2,537 posts)
10. Thank you!
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 04:26 PM
Oct 2024

I think those thoughts have popped into all of our minds. And sometimes it's germane to a specific discussion. But when people say things like "Palestinians who vote republican get what they deserve" it no longer feels like a progressive community.

TBF

(35,001 posts)
7. Well I've certainly said things like
Mon Oct 28, 2024, 03:43 PM
Oct 2024

"any woman who votes for republicans need to have their head examined".

That's kind of the same thing. But I do get your point, and you expressed it very well.

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