I'm a fierce critic of President Obama (see my sarcastic sig for instance). I've disagreed with some of the accusations of racism here. I've rolled my eyes at it, in fact. Some of those banned were members who really made me grit my teeth.
But today, some of the diaries have made me slow down. Pause. Try to consider things from another angle.
This diary began as a comment, but it became a bit long. More beneath the orange turd-doodle ...
Today, one of the boycott-related diaries really made me halt in my tracks. I think there's plenty of dog-whistle (and not so dog-whistle) racism on DKOS. I also think there's plenty of well-deserved criticism of President Obama. I think both sides sometimes see what they are inclined to see. Some of those banned recently were users who really made me grit my teeth and with whom I disagreed vigorously.
So what?
It's time for me, as one of our fellow Kossacks suggested, to be uncomfortable. It's time for me to shut up. It's time for me, even if I disagree or don't understand, to keep my mouth shut and to keep listening.
Another Kossack (to whom I was responding with a comment that turned into this diary) called the boycotters "egotistical."
And if so?
Maybe it's time for those of us who just don't "see it" to put our own egos aside. I found myself thinking, "Yes, there's some racism here, but surely not enough to warrant this boycotting response."
And then it hit me.
How would I know? It dawned on me that I had never, not once (despite being a member since 2004) purposefully read a BKOS diary. Why was that? No. Really. Why was that? Sounds like a good time for me to feel uncomfortable.
Why could I not recall ever tipping a BKOS diary?
How many times had I zipped by toward the latest pie-fight that I could spot on the horizon in order to tip and snark? How would I know what sort of dog-whistles were being sounded in BKOS diaries ... if I had never read them? In truth, I realize that I have never listened. So yes, I've really not heard much.
Does that mean that the boycott is warranted? Who cares.
Our fellow Kossacks, our fellow Democrats, our fellow human beings are telling us that they are feeling hurt. They are doing so in a loud and forceful way.
One could respond by saying, "Stop whining."
One could also respond by listening and silencing the trigger-finger response.
This is a Democratic blog. I know which response is in tune with Democratic values and which one reminds me ... in an uncomfortable way ... of the response likely to come from the Republican party.
So NEXT week, when the boycott hopefully ends, I am going to hold my own boycott when these important voices of the community return.
I am going to boycott my ego. It will be difficult. I really like ME and I really think I have some witty opinions. And that, my fellow Kossacks, is a pretty good sign that it's time for me to shut up and listen.