Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.
Well, it USED to be that way. Lenny Bruce once used a racial slur and repeated it 20 times to show that after a while, it was just a word. Granted, words are powerful, and hate speech is deadly. It inspires people to act, usually violently so we have to be aware of the words we use.
But ‘woke-ism’ is becoming more dangerous. The world has misquoted and attributed a famous phrase to Voltaire: “I don’t agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Unfortunately, the quote isn’t real — or at least, it’s not really Voltaire. It comes from a 1906 biography by Evelyn Beatrice Hall, which was intended to represent a summary of his thinking on free speech issues.
Nevertheless, the penalties for ‘free speech’ have resulted in canceling people and organizations and while ‘cancel culture and ‘woke-ism’ may be favorite phrases of-and perhaps created by the far right, as an American, I see it and reject its intention.
Everyone has a right to be a racist, xenophobe, homophobe, misogynist, etc. We don’t have to like these people, and we have the right to challenge their statements, but when ANYTHING we say becomes ‘hate’ speech, we’re diluting the harm of REAL hate speech. Sharing our feelings and views without using derogatory terms is also under attack.
Black Bart said it best in ‘Blazing Saddles:’
Madonna’s daughter, a model, recently posed for an ad, proudly showing her armpit hair. Good for her. I think it’s gross. And please don’t tell me THAT is robbing her of her right to ‘express’ herself. She can get a razor if she so chooses. That is not armpit hair-hate. That is just my opinion.
People died from Covid from various health issues. Obesity being one of them. Putting diabetes and serious ailments to the side, being obese is often a choice. There! I said it. We have a choice to be healthy and while age is sometimes a contributing factor, eating crap makes people sick. Again, that is their choice but our insurance rates are high because it is based on the overall population and with obesity an issue, I’m tired of paying more. That is not fat-shaming-hate. That is just my opinion.
UPDATE 9/17:I should have added addiction, psychological, and self-esteem issues as factors. These issues manifest themselves in many many ways, obesity is one of them. I stand corrected and apologize for this oversight.
There is an entire generation that lives their life on TikTok and Instagram, often, in my opinion, with insipid and self-important vanity shots. It creates people who, in the words of Billy Crystal on SNL believe “it is more important to look good than to feel good.” No, it isn’t. Free expression? I’m all for it. But that shallowness robs one of self-esteem and dignity. That is not text-shaming-hate. That is just my opinion.
“Mr. Bean” actor Rowan Atkinson compared cancel culture to a “medieval mob looking for someone to burn.”
Cancel culture is a mixture of denying free speech but it is also about scapegoating and panic.
President Andrew Shepherd (remember him?) said: “Whatever your particular problem is, most people are not the least bit interested in solving it. They are interested in two things, and two things only: making you afraid of it, and telling you who's to blame for it. You gather a group of people, who remember with longing an easier time, and you talk to them about family, and American values and character, and scream about patriotism. You tell others they’re to blame for your lot in life. “
Black lives matter. And yes, ALL lives matter but coming back with that as a response may reinforce someone’s belief that white lives are under attack. If you’re saying jobs and housing and food going to those communities are destroying ‘whiteness,’ that is about as close to racist as you can get. Jews, Hispanics, Muslims, LGBTQ+ communities, and others are under attack. That doesn’t make me a woke libtard. That makes me a patriot. And one group cannot co-opt that label.
Want to shut down a bakery that won’t make gay wedding cakes? Let the market and word-of-mouth decide. Believe me. People refusing to shop there because of their policy will solve the problem.
Woke-ism could mean a lot of things. To me, mostly, it’s shutting down dialogue and further alienating people, rather than making people compatriots in a cause.
Victor Davis Hanson of Stanford University put the entire issue in terms I find enlightening, though with a few criticisms.
https://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=13968
While I may have rambled (Me? A guy who made a career out of spinning and wordsmithing!) I think differing opinions are an opportunity to dialogue, not isolate but often, that opportunity has another agenda. To proselytize, convert or just cause friction where there does not need to be, is the divider. Don’t agree? Fine, but don’t disrespect or cancel me.
Don’t woke up. Wake up.
Glad you tackled this subject because this issue is killing the country. I recently had a conversation with a young woman who became worried while telling me how much she loved her new boyfriend because she thought it took away her feminist cred. This is awful! We’re always explaining and apologizing but to whom?! Mobs be damned, we better tackle the climate issue or we’ll all be texting underwater.
While I agree with many things that you stated in your blog, I disagree with you regarding obesity. While you state that they are abusing their bodies by eating junk and it is a 'choice', I would disagree with your assumptions and conclusions. Of course you are more than open to believe what you wish but I would hope that you wish to read more about the disease of addiction, its insidious nature and the various complexities associated with it. It is definitely obvious to identify a person as obese as it is to identify a person of color, a person with a physical challenge, etc. They can't hide from others. As a therapist that worked in the addictions field I can say that it is an issue with multiple elements and dimensions. From my own personal history of dealing with eating disorders and having been identified in the past as obese, I can tell you that this is a long discussion topic. I know you are an individual who listens, is open to new information and I value your intelligence, insights, humor and friendship. Just presenting another point of view regarding that particular part of your blog. I hope that this can be informative to you in some way.