2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Let me know how this "harass Black people into voting for Sanders" campaign is working for y'all [View all]myrna minx
(22,772 posts)You're always fair and reasoned. Whatever you have to say, I listen - because I know it's honest (and probably funny as hell!)
I think what's happening here is a whole lot of complicated stuff - a convergence of frustration and misunderstanding, poor binary logic and good old fashioned hateful trollery with plenty of disturbing racism. There has been some nasty horrible racism posted here that makes me sick - and It makes me sick that they're claiming to be Sanders supporters. Sanders may have some tone deaf moment's, but there's nothing about his passion for people that connects and reconciles with that at all. At all.
There are thoughtful supporters, rageful trolls, rageful supporters and people who truly do not understand.
How I see the BLM movement is that it's a very real and powerful civil rights movement that will change this country in profound and important ways. The passionate momentum these young people have brought to this movement is so inspiring and they're a force to be reckoned with! We are on the brink of real change. This is a good thing. I think there are some (white) liberal people who are misunderstanding this movement as an abstract idea of political theory rather then a- "NO - people are being killed every day - TODAY- we're serious - we need to change this NOW."
BLM isn't an abstract. This is real.
On DU, there seem to be some folks here who think if PoC take issue with allies like Sanders and O'Malley about their *messaging* -that it's an attack and that they're automatically Clinton supporters who are swift boating. I have no doubt that in politicking, some DUers may be try to lure PoC to her as a result of this fallout, but that's to be expected in politics.
I see this as an opportunity for Sanders and O'Malley to expand their understanding and broaden their outreach. If they *are* allies, as I know they are, they'll reach out. This is a learning opportunity if we want it. We white liberals need to take a long look at what our PoC friends and family are telling us - lives depend on it. Now isn't the time to be angry that a speech was interrupted, now is the time to respond to the emergency call made during the speech.