Yesterday, I wrote a diary entitled
Democrats can win the deep south...easy.... which was intended to be a diary to discuss ways in which we can approach the south more effectively than in current practice. I got off on a tangent and expressed several incomplete thoughts that amounted to what sounded like I was supporting or even
apologizing for the confederates of 1860.
Let me say quite simply: slavery is a stain on this nation's history. It was despicable, and still is despicable. It had an unquestionable relationship to the economy of the antebellum south and in that nature was one of the causes of the civil war. if any other impression was taken from my diary, I apologize. It was not a joke as Armando so quickly labeled it...it was just an incomplete thesis and starting point for a discussion about how to more effectively court the southern voters. Unfortunately, I bogged myself down in rhetoric and "rewriting" history (not at all my intention)...
Now, for the real point of the diary: we have a real problem with the south as democrats. As much as we would like their votes and long to start having the southern voters trend toward democratic, we have prominent liberals/dems, and everyday normal liberals/dems harshly criticizing the south. In what way is it effective to start a discussion with: "fuck the south"....now vote for my party which just said fuck you?
Take as an example (being a teacher, it's easiest to make this metaphor) the US as a classroom. Each region is a student with their individual quirks and issues. Now, Jeff South sits in the back of the classroom, preoccupied by historical criticism, and so doozes off in the class discussion. I, as a teacher (here representing the dem party...wow, have I moved up in the world!), have the need to fix this discipline problem. What I don't do is drag Jeff South up to the front of the classroom and address him as follows: "Jeff...you are an ignorant, backwoods, redneck. Fuck you, you racist piece of shit. You should be ashamed of yourself and your ancestors, no matter whether they were or were not part of the wealthy elite. Now go sit in the corner so the rest of the class can be educated without your idiocy distracting us."
Is that how you would approach a troubled student? Now, I'm not saying that the south is a child, but I hope that the point of the metaphor is clear. We cannot expect anyone, any region, any group of voters to appreciate being insulted.
So, now that I've laid out what not to do, I should fill in with what to do. I'm much more limited on this, but I do know one thing. Prominent democratic advocates, or liberal advocates need to stop denouncing the south. I said it yesterday and I'll say it again today, I love Al Franken and Michael Moore...nearly idolize them, but they are so overtly negative about the south. Certainly there are problems in the south, but it's hardly fair to single them out as the racist bigots. What about California's history with Asian exploitation, or the Northwest's internment camps during WWII. These sins have been almost completely forgiven (and frankly, I've met a couple of Californians who still harbor animosity toward Asians, just like I've met southerners who still have problems with blacks). What I've never heard is anyone completely lambasting Washington state for their unconsciousable actions during that conflict.
Before anyone takes me to task on the obvious differences between institutional slavery, the lack of civil rights up to the 1960s, etc...I know...I get it...the south has not and at times still does not get it right. And I'm not excusing those who still hold these racist sentiments. It's simply time for us, as a party to move on to more constructive methods of speaking about the south. Does it have a long way to go to racial harmony? Yes, but so does the whole country.
Whether it's fair or not, racism exists in all regions, whether it's in the form of racial profiling against arabs/blacks, the abandonment of the inner cities and their schools, the segregation of neighborhoods in so many towns, or that stereotypical redneck drinking beer and looking to kick a little nigger ass, it still pervades this country. It's not a southern thing solely, folks, and a quick analysis of your own surroundings (I see all kinds of problems here in mid MO) might reveal that I do have a point here.
So, please, believe me when I say I hate the concept of slavery: historically, it's one of the most cruel and despicable traits of humankind. What needs to change in our discussions however, is the sense of hatred for a single region. There are certainly other things that democrats need to do to court the south (changing their message to a republican one not being one of those options!!!), and a lot of those came up yesterday, but got buried because of my mistake...so let's regenerate the discussion and deal with the important issue of getting the south to a "progressive" realization.