They're self-defined: They describe themselves as part of a movement that solely sees the world as it truly is. The believe racism is worse now than 60 years ago, but hidden. They believe blacks can't be free until and unless "good" whites cleanse all racism from our culture. They believe that free speech is a threat to social justice, and that true freedom can only be measured materially - i e., equally distributed wealth. They see religious faith as ignorance.
The catch is that they also believe that there are no "good" whites; therefore blacks can never be free. The Woke are simply fascists in sheep's clothing, fanatical proponents of a promised autocratic World Order.
Well, they're convinced THEY are the "good whites" .... but when you read how they claim to speak for blacks and Hispanics, you realize they hew pretty close to Rudyard Kipling's "white man's burden" ...
I'm not sure they think that they're "good." Their intellectual self-flagellation suggests (constantly professing their "privilege" and their loathing of said privilege) that they simply think they're the less-bad whites. regardless, they can piss off.
"Wokism" has all the hallmarks of religious zealotry. That is the best way to "understand" it. And I think the best thing to do is designate it as a religion so we can separate it from the government. (I don't really see that happening, but it's a nice dream.)
Kind of reminds me of “The X Files” TV series poster…”I Want To Believe” which, of course, does not make it true.
Define the woke. I hear that all the time, but I'm not sure who they are.
They're self-defined: They describe themselves as part of a movement that solely sees the world as it truly is. The believe racism is worse now than 60 years ago, but hidden. They believe blacks can't be free until and unless "good" whites cleanse all racism from our culture. They believe that free speech is a threat to social justice, and that true freedom can only be measured materially - i e., equally distributed wealth. They see religious faith as ignorance.
The catch is that they also believe that there are no "good" whites; therefore blacks can never be free. The Woke are simply fascists in sheep's clothing, fanatical proponents of a promised autocratic World Order.
Well, they're convinced THEY are the "good whites" .... but when you read how they claim to speak for blacks and Hispanics, you realize they hew pretty close to Rudyard Kipling's "white man's burden" ...
I'm not sure they think that they're "good." Their intellectual self-flagellation suggests (constantly professing their "privilege" and their loathing of said privilege) that they simply think they're the less-bad whites. regardless, they can piss off.
"Wokism" has all the hallmarks of religious zealotry. That is the best way to "understand" it. And I think the best thing to do is designate it as a religion so we can separate it from the government. (I don't really see that happening, but it's a nice dream.)
Great piece.
I know you've argued that before, and it's starting to grow on me.