Dean Clough

May 6, 2022

Portico Darwin: Woke vs. Wokistan vs. Fox News/MAGA/Trump Enablers

TODAY'S RAMBLINGS

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Why do some (OK, Republicans) say the biggest problem in America is the progress we've made?  Or, as some have decided to call it:  being "woke"?

But what does woke mean?  As recently as 5 years ago, a mentee (now a friend) called me that as a compliment, after I said something like "Until one acknowledges the harm things like redlining and other hinderances to building generational wealth had on black Americans, there's nothing to talk about." 

I was observing systemic racism and its objective impact, so I guess that would be called "woke".  But is it?  Isn't it just observing reality?  Whites had an easier time building generational wealth than blacks, so how couldn't that have an impact on family stability, education, income levels, etc.?  Do you think it's woke to observe those facts and the unfairness?  I don't!

So isn't "woke" just a made-up pejorative, meant to demean the progress we've made as a country on many fronts?  Like improved rights for women, blacks, and the non-cisgender?  A recognition that capitalism, while the best system, needs guardrails and referees?

I contrast that with the sad "Wokistan" crowd - those unable to listen to off-color jokes or hear opinions that differ from their own without needing a safe space or pushing the cancel button.  I see those living in either Wokistan and Trumpistan as being in a bad place - although, significantly, one "-stan" doesn't want to stage coups in our own country.  Maybe more should remember that?

To illustrate my point, here's a handy chart delineating the difference between "Woke", "Wokistan", and "Fox News/MAGA/Trump Enablers" - A.K.A. "Trumpistan".  I am continuing Matthew Dowd's point from Monday that what the crazies demean as "woke" is actually what the vast majority of Americans believe and want.

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Your thoughts?

Although the first reader that cites "political correctness" as being the root issue is getting their knuckles whacked with a ruler.  Because this is about a whole lot more than just not using the "N" word.

(P.S.  I hope you've had a chance to read and study the 3 part series on Tucker Carlson in The New York TimesHere is part 3; I don't know if you'll hit a paywall or not, but I urge to watch and listen if you can.  It is stunning and let there be no doubt the source of a lot of the division in the USA.  It kind of got lost in the shuffle in the wake of the SCOTUS mess, but it's an amazing work of research.)

FROM THE UNWASHED MASSES
Speaking of the SCOTUS mess, some were quite passionate in response to the debacle.  Passionately (and rightfully) pissed off.  

First, there's Arthur, diving into the archives to come up with some great context for the whole argument.

Re: Roe vs Wade, for the party of law and order, they don't think things through.  I remember hearing the original research results in 2001 and being wowed, but it didn't get much play in the general press:

https://journalistsresource.org/economics/abortion-crime-research-donohue-levitt/

https://freakonomics.com/2005/05/abortion-and-crime-who-should-you-believe/

And Hunter Deuce, was justifiably long-winded in his full-throated defense of abortion rights.  The first part is from George Carlin and while many have made the same observation, the greatest comedian of all time is right, as usual.

“Boy, these conservatives are really something, aren't they?  They're all in favor of the unborn.  They will do anything for the unborn.  But once you're born, you're on your own.  Pro-life conservatives are obsessed with the fetus from conception to nine months.  After that, they don't want to know about you.  They don't want to hear from you.  No nothing.  No neonatal care, no day care, no Head Start, no school lunch, no food stamps, no welfare, no nothing.  If you're preborn, you're fine; if you're preschool, you're fucked.”

Can anyone argue that is not true? 

The second Mr. Deuce pulled from something called "Facebook".  It is as true as it is intense.

"I'm not pro-murdering babies.

I'm pro-Becky who found out at her 20-week anatomy scan that the infant she had been so excited to bring into this world had developed without life sustaining organs.

I'm pro-Susan who was sexually assaulted on her way home from work, only to come to the horrific realization that her assailant planted his seed in her when she got a positive pregnancy test result a month later.

I'm pro-Theresa who hemorrhaged due to a placental abruption, causing her parents, spouse, and children to have to make the impossible decision on whether to save her or her unborn child.

I'm pro-little Cathy who had her innocence ripped away from her by someone she should have been able to trust and her 11-year-old body isn't mature enough to bear the consequence of that betrayal.

I'm pro-Melissa who's working two jobs just to make ends meet and has to choose between bringing another child into poverty or feeding the children she already has because her spouse walked out on her.

I'm pro-Brittany who realizes that she is in no way financially, emotionally, or physically able to raise a child.

I'm pro-Emily who went through IVF, ending up with SIX viable implanted eggs requiring selective reduction to ensure the safety of her and a SAFE number of fetuses.

I'm pro-Jessica who is FINALLY getting the strength to get away from her physically abusive spouse only to find out that she is carrying the monster's child.

I'm pro-Vanessa who went into her confirmation appointment after YEARS of trying to conceive only to hear silence where there should be a heartbeat.

I'm pro-Lindsay who lost her virginity in her sophomore year with a broken condom and now has to choose whether to be a teenage mom or just a teenager.

I'm pro-Courtney who just found out she's already 13 weeks along, but the egg never made it out of her fallopian tube so either she terminates the pregnancy or risks dying from internal bleeding.

You can argue and say that I'm pro-choice all you want, but the truth is:  I'm pro-life.  Their lives.  Women's lives.  You don't get to pick and choose which scenarios should be accepted.  It's not about which stories you don't agree with.  It's about fighting for the women in the stories that you do agree with and the CHOICE that was made.

Women's rights are meant to protect ALL women, regardless of their situation!  Overturning Roe does not stop abortions, it stops SAFE abortions!

Abortion is healthcare."

And I will add:  isn't healthcare a private matter?  Then why is this a public discussion - at all? 

Thank you to any one that is reading this newsletter.

KLUF

I'm going to play this again on KLUF - this will be the third time.  In fact, I might just play it regularly, at least up until this November's election.  For one, it's a great new-ish song from these rock veterans, and of course, there's the title.

But I also play it as a reminder that the assumption the Republicans are assured of a victory in November is wrong - if Republican voters would wake up to the obvious.  Or if we got more people to turn out and vote.

Because tell me again why Congressional Republicans are better than Congressional Democrats?  Name one policy area that's of importance to you, where the stated or defacto Republican policy is/has been demonstrably better for the country as a whole.  You know where to reach me with your answer. 

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About Dean Clough