An Observation
Nov. 12th, 2016 11:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
browngirlOn one stated reason for the US election outcome.
This week I've seen many repetitions of the statement that Trump won because people who have been called bigots flocked to support him, that by accusing people of bigotry the Left drove them into Trump's camp.
In my experience, people frequently equate "had bigotry pointed out to me" with "OMG YOU JUST CALLED ME A BIGOT". Because people pointed out bigotry to them, Trump's voters decided the reasonable response was to go even harder on all the forms of bigotry he offered them. They decided that their hurt feelings were more than sufficient reason to attack and oppress other people (one list of many) or at least support those who promise to.
And now we liberals are supposed to seek common ground (which no one is exhorting his supporters to seek, by the way) by apologizing for pointing out bigotry and promising not to discuss it, or at least that's the advice I've seen this week.
I do not think I will.
This week I've seen many repetitions of the statement that Trump won because people who have been called bigots flocked to support him, that by accusing people of bigotry the Left drove them into Trump's camp.
In my experience, people frequently equate "had bigotry pointed out to me" with "OMG YOU JUST CALLED ME A BIGOT". Because people pointed out bigotry to them, Trump's voters decided the reasonable response was to go even harder on all the forms of bigotry he offered them. They decided that their hurt feelings were more than sufficient reason to attack and oppress other people (one list of many) or at least support those who promise to.
And now we liberals are supposed to seek common ground (which no one is exhorting his supporters to seek, by the way) by apologizing for pointing out bigotry and promising not to discuss it, or at least that's the advice I've seen this week.
I do not think I will.
