OK here goes.
Yes, I'm a White man.
Yes, I probably have racist thoughts or feelings from time to time. I doubt anyone of any color can claim not to.
But I believe that there's a deeper tendency than racism behind the debates we've seen on Kos recently. It's the same thing that's behind much of the craziness of American politics today.
This tendency has been a key feature of Dailykos ever since I can remember. And it's been a feature of politics from time immemorial.
I can sum it up in one word...
Victimhood.
Let me tell you a story that'll explain my point. I hope it may also explain the bizarro world that is America today.
When I was a kid, there were no Black kids in my high school. One day we read "Champion of the World" by Maya Angelou in English class. In the story, she's listening to the heavyweight match in which Joe Louis defeated a White opponent. She and the Blacks around her were elated, feeling they'd won a symbolic victory against their oppressors. It was a very stirring piece.
After we finished, guess what was the first thing out of my White classmates' mouths? "Why did she capitalize "Black," while spelling "white" with a small "w"?
And indeed, Maya Angelou did favor her race in this small, insignificant, but clearly deliberate way. Was she trying to provoke White anger? I don't know. But that was the result amongst the sheltered White kids in my class.
What's my point? Just this: there are two things that every human being loves. One, feeling part of a group. And two, feeling like your group is victimized. When those two come together, few feelings are more satisfying. It's a prickling, thrilling outrage that just gets more delicious the more you share it. It builds a feeling of unity among your group. It's you against the world! You're the underdog, but you'll prevail! Don't tell me you've never felt it, Kossacks. We love to bitch about the omnipotent corporate media screwing liberals - while conservatives complain about the exact same thing! It doesn't matter whether you're right or wrong. The point is, it feels good to be in a group, and even better when you're oppressed!
These two feelings combine to form one of humanity's strongest experiences. When mixed with the natural unifying force of race, the feeling becomes overwhelming. It's so powerful, so addictive in fact, that otherwise rational people are very capable of manufacturing it with utter certainty based on the flimsiest of evidence. Did the bank teller frown at you? She must hate Latinos! Did the store in Paris lock their doors at closing time? Must be because you're Black! It's an outrage!
Which brings me to my lament. I'm White, as you know. Sure, I'm supposedly granted all of society's privileges. Cops treat me with polite deference, store clerks greet me with a cheery smile, taxis pull over at the slightest twitch of my hand. Yet all that means nothing because I'm robbed of something far sweeter. I'm denied both the feeling of group unity, and the feeling of victimhood.
Hear the words "Black culture" or "Latino pride" and you think of positive things. What does "White pride" bring to mind? I'm not allowed to feel pride for my race's accomplishments, or kinship for other Whites. It's unseemly, if not downright scary. Blacks are all brothers, "La Raza" is "Unida," but I'm White, enjoying my hollow privileges alone.
What's worse, I'm not the underdog. I can't claim victimhood. I can't feel righteously oppressed. Nobody's rooting for me. If I succeed, it's because the game was rigged. If I fail, it's like I blew a 30 point fourth quarter lead to the Knicks.
So what's a White man to do? Here's what: find a way to get that group unity, then find a way to be a victim. Did Maya Angelou refuse to capitalize my race? Did the Black guy get the job because of affirmative action? Damn it! That's reverse discrimination (oooh, that feels good!)
And if society frowns on the idea of White unity, I'll find another way to belong to a group - a victimized group! I'll become a Christian!
Did you ever wonder why White Christians seem to have gone off the deep end? They're running around whining about being oppressed, and loving every minute of it. I'm convinced it's an expression of these two long-stifled human desires. They can't feel White pride, but they can feel Christian pride. And since just about everyone in their church is White, it comes to the same thing. They can't plausibly claim victimhood for their race, so they try to claim it for their religion. And like all of us, they're able to conjure the evidence out of thin air (War on Christmas, anyone?)
Does this make sense to anyone? Do you feel sorry for me?