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> Did I ever rape anyone? Was I in the KKK? Did I ever wear blackface? I think this is a gross oversimplification. Let me modernize the questions for the curre
by csa 3y ago
> Did I ever rape anyone? Was I in the KKK? Did I ever wear blackface?
I think this is a gross oversimplification. Let me modernize the questions for the current era (since the alleged infractions were decades ago):
1. Have I ever touch someone romantically in any way without asking for explicit permission and receiving explicit approval?
This is the alleged “standard” these days, although I think that it is only strictly adhered to in one very narrow social group. Overall, “feeling safe” and “respect” seems to be more common than it was many decades ago, but those are still a far cry from explicit consent at every step that some folks use as a “standard”.
So if a potential politician cannot answer yes to this, then they leave themselves to being accused of being a rapist and/or sexual predator.
2. Am I in a social group that has a racial mix that does not approximate the local ratios (esp. if white)?
California, where I live, is taking stances on equality that focus on outcomes more than opportunities.
An unfortunate byproduct of this is that a group that is open to all groups, has members of at least all major groups, and has no policy or pattern of discrimination can still be called racist if their racial ratios are not at a certain level.
This basically means that most private clubs are “racist” by this definition.
Moose, Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, golf clubs, fraternities and sororities, American Legion branches, Masons (even Prince Hall), etc. are all organizations that have active members now that could be deemed “racist” if “racism” is defined as equality of outcome (as it is currently in CA K-12 education).
Any potential policitian who is a member of one of these groups runs the risk of being called a racist.
3. Have I ever worn a costume of a character that is not my race?
Moana, Mulan, Tiana, Jasmine, Pocahontas, are some Disney characters that are potentially out of bounds.
Luke Cage, Blue Marvel, Storm, Blade, Misty Knight, Black Panther, and Moon Girl are Marvel characters that are potentially out of bounds.
Any potential politician has to make sure that they have not worn any of these sorts of costumes, since at some point they may be accused of being racist or engaging in cultural appropriation.
Times change, people make mistakes, people grow… we need to allow space for this, especially when a questionable action was not done with malicious intent.
- whatshisface 3y agoThe KKK was a violent organization 100 years ago, there is no surprise that it would disqualify you from office. Literally nobody in that group is surprised to find that outsiders think they are too racist...
- csa 3y ago> The KKK was a violent organization 100 years ago, there is no surprise that it would disqualify you from office. 1. David Duke, a former Grand Wizard of the KKK, held elected office in Louisiana from 1989 to 1992. Not only do I think that it did not disqualify him, I’m guessing his former office helped him get elected. 2. Strom Thurmond, who was a vocal critic of integration and was in the Senate until 2003 (he was over 100yo), was a known racist. He later supported desegregation, but his racist attitudes in his personal life (e.g., word usage) allegedly didn’t change much. Despite being very regressive in many of his views, he continued to get elected to office for over four decades (until 20 years ago, mind you), and he wielded immense power in the Senate. 3. There are no shortage of current national-level politicians, like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tommy Tuberville, who make explicit racist comments and plenty of dog whistle racist comments. They seem to have no problem getting elected. Being racist or violent only very narrowly limits potential political positions one can run for, imho.
- whatshisface 3y agoYou're drawing conclusions from the most extreme politicians you can find in the deepest backwaters of this nation. The only reason we hear so much about them is that running news items on what they do is like running campaign ads for everyone else.
- true_religion 3y agoStorm Thermon has a black daughter whom he supported, and associated with. When she was around 30 or so, people even assumed she was his mistress until he reluctantly admitted the truth. He’s hardly the most extreme politician on race. He’s more like some people who are stereotype others but make exceptions for their family. True extremists would have nothing to do with their mixed children.