The Racism Arms Race was the first of my articles suggested by the paid subscribers here at The Commentary (sign up if you’d like to weigh in on the next one), and it was more challenging and more rewarding than I expected.
This: [To say that this is a sensitive topic is an understatement. Everybody’s emotions are high, everybody has reason to feel wronged, everybody feels as if they’re personally under attack. None of us likes to feel we’re being demonised, and when we do, it’s extremely hard to look beyond what’s happening to us and “our side”.]
In 1969 the Marine Corps drafted due to heavy combat attrition. We got a draftee in my platoon who was all, "We're wrong, the NVA are right..." His first night ambush that made contact he learned the eternal truth. I battle there are no good guys and bad guys, only our guys and their guys.
People, including me, seem to have a very difficult time refraining from putting small, or large, digs into their comments that announce that a battle line has been drawn. At that point, conversation becomes a high emotion fight. Your side or my side.
Not intended as flattery, I'm here because you can write about tough, triggering topics like racism without drawing a battle line or making people feel attacked. That is unless they are completely intolerant to a thought that doesn't confirm their cherished notions. That's a big deal.
This: [To say that this is a sensitive topic is an understatement. Everybody’s emotions are high, everybody has reason to feel wronged, everybody feels as if they’re personally under attack. None of us likes to feel we’re being demonised, and when we do, it’s extremely hard to look beyond what’s happening to us and “our side”.]
In 1969 the Marine Corps drafted due to heavy combat attrition. We got a draftee in my platoon who was all, "We're wrong, the NVA are right..." His first night ambush that made contact he learned the eternal truth. I battle there are no good guys and bad guys, only our guys and their guys.
People, including me, seem to have a very difficult time refraining from putting small, or large, digs into their comments that announce that a battle line has been drawn. At that point, conversation becomes a high emotion fight. Your side or my side.
Not intended as flattery, I'm here because you can write about tough, triggering topics like racism without drawing a battle line or making people feel attacked. That is unless they are completely intolerant to a thought that doesn't confirm their cherished notions. That's a big deal.