While debating some conservatives on a RW message board, there was a thread poking fun at a University of Oklahoma student for publishing an editorial about using the word "nude" to describe a bra color that is flesh-colored for white people. The thread I debated on was predictable- calling this PC nonsense and questioning the education at "liberal universities" (in Oklahoma? lol). The original poster had linked to an article in the National Review. You know- that well spring of conservative thought leadership. Surely, posters on an esteemed site such as this must have some good arguments about PC run amok and/or how language norms may evolve at a different pace than racial sensitivities and we don't really need to worry about small stuff like that. Or perhaps they'd even have some cogent insight about how corporations marketing to certain demographics may necessarily pander to expectations of their target market- even if it may not be universally applicable. I kid. In the comments section of the NR article, the racist dog whistles were tossed away and replaced with sirens. Loud and unmistakable. Links & some analysis after the orange pastry.
First, here's the University of Oklahoma article that dared raise the question "What color is nude?"
Replacing the Fashion Industry's Definition of "Nude"
At first, I found myself chuckling over the premise of the article. Of course the author wasn't wrong, but... Really? Is that such a big problem? Silly college kids... But finally the author got to her real point:
We aren’t trying to condemn the entire fashion industry or all manufacturers of commercial goods as intentionally racist. What we are saying is there are subtle instances of racism ingrained into our daily lives; instances so commonplace they often go unnoticed.
Wow. Bingo! The author is absolutely right. And when I accept that the author is correct, and work backwards from that then the conclusion in inescapable: she is right to bring this up. It reminds me of my own learning process of my racial biases. While I would never have considered myself racist, I realized at about 19 years old that I had my head full of racial stereotypes. I dated a black girl and she completely destroyed the ugly stereotypes that filled my head. For sure I'm still not perfect, but I'm certainly more aware of the biases- big and small- that influence my thoughts on race.
Do you think you'll find any such self awareness from the National Review, or its readers? Yeah right. NR didn't say much, but its readers have a lot to say. They have no problems having their names and pictures attached to the racist rants.
National Review: Bras are Now Racist Because They Come in 'Nude'
Many of the comments are just typical conservative responses - ignore the author's point and question why the color black isn't also racist. But they don't stop there.
One Ward Kendall had this to say:
It really comes down to this: who cares what negroes think - about anything? No one wants to see a stinking negro woman "nude" anyway. Negroes need to keep their bubble-lipped mouths shut or get the hell out of this country.
Ward's comment was up-voted 7 times.
Right above that, though, Chris W (who at least hid his last name) chimed in with:
Here is hoping for an all White society again. Who is with me? Clearly racism will always exist as long as diversity exists. We should just end diversity and multiculturalism and there would be no problems. People that want to live together should be allowed, but the desire for an all White homeland shouldn't be called racist and deemed hateful by groups like the SPLC. USSA is pathetic.
Thats just two. There's a lot more. For some reason, I was surprised by this. I know not all conservatives are racist. But it is so commonplace now that it goes unrebutted. Not a single person pointing out the inappropriate responses or suggesting the author may just have a point. Not one.
I'm disgusted. I used to respect the differences between liberals and conservatives (for the record, I used to be a conservative). There's nothing to respect here. They aren't driven by viable alternative political views. They are driven by willful ignorance, bigotry and hatred. And they like it that way.