I’ve dealt with addicts.
An addict will look you in the face, promise you he’s going to behave, and then the second he walks out the door he does the exact opposite without remorse or hesitation.
I’ve followed people into the parking lot after they assured me a dozen times that they weren’t going to have a drink that day. I’ve seen them swear on the lives of their children, only to find them sipping on a can in the cab of their truck.
Even when caught in the act, at most you’ll get a brief flicker of remorse before they reflexively switch over to defiance and denial. If you let them, they’ll begin to sermon. They’ll offer argument after nonsensical argument that only becomes more unhinged and deranged the longer you listen.
You have no obligation to endure this nonsense. This isn’t a scientific debate. There is no requirement to “give equal time to both sides.” They’re doing something wrong, and being forced to endure their dishonest justifications is just a disrespectful waste of your life.
Unfortunately, this experience often comes to mind when I see the daily barrage of absurd arguments delivered by racism apologists in the US media. The worst part is that, under the guise of “equal time” we are only subjected to the delusional tirades of racism addicts.
It’s detrimental to our society when many of the discussions bolstered by significant media air time do not meet the minimum requirements of honest debate. We need to understand that racists, like any form of addict, don’t have anything to contribute. The only reason they speak at all is to slither out of accountability.
The Gadsden flag has become a hate symbol
My wife recently started a job at a new school. After orientation, she came home and told me a Gadsden flag was on display in the social studies classroom.
“That flag with the snakes gives me a bad feeling,” she said.
During her orientation, she pointed at it, “Why is this flag here?”
At her question, the typical, casual muttering evaporated. We’re confronted by a hostile ambiance every day. Whenever anyone points at a symbol of racism and calls it out for what it is, the room becomes uncomfortable.
Somebody started to give an explanation, “Well there are a lot of flags… history… context… blah, blah…”
“I don’t like that flag,” my wife said. “It makes me feel intimidated. It’s often carried by people who I know want to hurt me.”
As she recounted this story, I could tell she was deeply troubled by this experience. She went on to say that one, but only one, of the people in the room with her muttered, “You might be right.”
But that’s all she got. As far as I know, the flag wasn’t removed.
False equivalencies
Yesterday on Twitter, I came across a similar discussion. Some right-wing pundit was saying, “I defend the Gadsden flag in classrooms the same way I defend the Pride flag in Christian schools. It’s freedom of speech.”
“False equivalency,” I replied. “The Gadsden flag is meant to threaten and intimidate. The Pride flag is meant to express inclusion and solidarity. Students shouldn’t have to be confronted with hate symbols at school. Freedom of speech does not justify hate speech.”
“I guess we know which flag you fly,” was the response. It took me a while to realize that statement was meant as a swipe. Yeah, I fly flags that stand for equality, tolerance, and love instead of discrimination and hatred. What’s your point?
Also, I doubt any Christian schools allow teachers to fly the Pride flag. Every part of that argument was a complete fabrication.
The whole discussion failed to meet the most basic intellectual standards. Yet, the individual saying he defended the Gadsden flag was a media personality with millions of followers. His argument is given more credibility than mine in the general US media.
The needle of American perception points towards authoritarianism
The Gadsden flag discussion demonstrates how far the needle has shifted to the side of radical authoritarianism in the United States. Media personalities, supported by tremendous resources, are confident in their ability to repeat nonsensical, pro-racism arguments that are the equivalent of an alcoholic babbling to you about why it’s “okay” that he’s drinking a beer in the parking lot when he just said he wasn’t going to.
“It’s just a beer. I deserve this beer.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I guess you hate freedom, is that it? Why don’t you move to a country where freedom is illegal? I bet you’d be very happy there!”
Addicts are very skilled at wriggling out of accountability to defend their right to indulge in their toxic behavior. We have to understand that racism apologists, too, will lie to your face like an addict.
“Do you denounce white supremacy?”
“Sure.”
The tactic of respectful discussion will not change their behavior. At best, they’ll tell you what you want to hear, then keep right on going with their destructive actions and beliefs.
You’ve got to keep the receipts. You’ve got to gather evidence so that an impartial third party will acknowledge their guilt on judgment day. Don’t waste your time with meaningless discussions. Once a person has been revealed as a racism addict, you need to focus not on trying to understand them, but on trying to hold them accountable.
You already understand them. Don’t waste any more energy on that.
We must adopt a new philosophy
Before you engage in any discussion on racism in the United States, it’s important to adopt the appropriate mindset. When it comes to racism, we all have to recognize that you’re not getting into a rational debate where both parties sincerely believe in the merits of their perspective.
Racists, like all addicts, know they’re doing wrong but they’re caught up in a toxic spiral and they’d like nothing more than to take you down with them.
You have to think about self-preservation. You have to take action to prevent them from contaminating your thoughts. If they can’t turn you into a racist, they’ll be content to turn you into somebody who stands silent when confronted with racism.
“The Gadsden flag represents history…”
This represents about 3/4ths of the United States, maybe more.
When you have a discussion with a person who is addicted to racism, you’re talking to somebody who has a problem. The problem is so obvious that, on some level, even they know it’s bad for them. However, like any toxic entanglement, they’re so addicted to the false high racism gives them that they’re willing to lie, cheat, and steal in order to experience that high.
You have no obligation to “hear both sides” in this instance because the other side represents a disconnect from reality. Addicts are not committed to working toward a better society, all they want to do is justify their own self-indulgent behavior. None of their arguments stand up to examination, but they try to make up for that by never giving you a chance to speak.
They’re highly motivated and very effective at achieving this objective.
Sometimes there aren’t two sides to an issue
The only person who sits and listens to the nonsensical babbling of an addict is a sucker. I’m disgusted that I am subjected to the delusional arguments of racism apologists on a daily basis. I’m disgusted at the thought that my children might have to walk through the doors of a classroom and be forced to endure the inherent threat of a Gadsden flag.
I don’t trust racism addicts to be in the vicinity of my children.
But nobody’s banning the Gadsden flag from schools. Instead, they’re banning To Kill a Mockingbird. That’s because, like it or not, we live in a racism-addicted society.
I’m further disgusted at the thought that my children might have to listen to a teacher’s misguided reasoning for putting the Gadsden flag on display. I’d much rather that my children were taught by a competent teacher who understood that the Gadsden flag has become a hate symbol, and who does not try to bury this fact in dishonest arguments.
“I don’t have a problem… I can quit any time I want.”
It’s tempting to take a deep breath and walk away whenever you’re confronted by pro-racism propaganda, but it’s a mistake to allow yourself to be conditioned to numbness in response to injustice.
Yes, if you call racism out for what it is, you will take the air out of the room. However, many of those inhaled breaths indicate hope for productive change. When you have the courage to speak up, you often find that more people agree with you than you’d have ever believed.
It’s starts by saying something as simple as “The media has a conservative bias, not a liberal bias.” No productive action is too small. They add up.
Don’t waste your time listening to the lies of addicts
You don’t have any obligation to give respectful consideration to the justifications of an addict in desperate pursuit of his next high.
Racism has become so fused with the cultural identity of the United States that people will talk about “American Exceptionalism” without recognizing that the concept has its roots in white supremacy.
“Are you saying I shouldn’t have pride in my country?”
“No, I’m saying that racism is evil.”
The way American society discusses important issues is problematic to the point of being exhausting. Racist beliefs and assumptions are such an inherent part of the American ideology that they’re repeated and reinforced incessantly. We must not mistake repetition for truth.
The first step is simply being aware that you’re being subjected to this abuse. Powerful, dishonest racists are lying to you constantly. They lie big. They lie small. They lie all day long. They refuse to fix anything. This is why nothing in our society works. All they do is lie to avoid accountability.
Engaging them in debate plays right into their hands. It’s worthless. It’s a waste of your time. Instead, keep the receipts and hold them accountable when the time comes. They’ll squeal when you do it, but that’s just part of the process.
The only thing in our favor is the fact that addicts always screw up eventually. However, you must follow through or the addicts will wriggle away and force you to endure the punishment on their behalf.
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