2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Bernie Supporters - Please read my post [View all]LWolf
(46,179 posts)I think it makes a great OP, and I hope that we're all listening.
I'm glad you made it an OP; at # 354, I probably never would have seen it. My old 'puter keeps crashing, and can't seem to load all of really long threads.
I strongly agree that, not just Bernie supporters or white liberals, but ALL people of conscience should be ACTIVELY supporting you in the fight for racial justice. When it comes to the primaries, I've noted that the BLM action at NN was successful. All the candidates will now say "Black Lives Matter" and name names.
That, I know, is only a first step. Candidates need to follow up on that with specific policies to address specific racial justice issues. I'm hearing them talk about it. I'm guessing that the black community would like more, and more specific, plans of action.
Can you tell us what you think about what the candidates have offered up so far?
As far as the issue of Sanders supporters being "mean," etc., I have to say that I don't honestly "get" it.
One of the reasons, I'm sure, is that I don't see very many threads about HRC. I put "HRC," "Hillary," and "Clinton" in as terms to hide threads. I know what she's doing on the campaign trail. I can read about her in the news if I want to. She's not ever going to earn my support, not without becoming someone she's not. That doesn't mean that I "hate" her. I simply don't support her political self. I don't need to argue about her.
So whatever is happening in most Clinton threads, I'm not seeing it. I am seeing, though, the same kind of behavior we're accused of happening in Sanders threads.
I've learned a great deal by listening. I think you make a good point about Obama. That's a really loaded topic for me, and I don't know that right here is the best place to discuss it. What I'll say is that, regardless of my own take, I GET the Black community' support for him, and don't begrudge it. I'll point out that Sanders himself speaks very positively about Obama, even when disagreeing with him. He spends more time mentioning his agreements than disagreements.
I also have seen what you describe, the defensive shut down of conversation. In this case, and in life. I've reacted that way myself many times.
I hope you, and others, will keep talking. I'll be listening, and I hope the rest will, too.