Seeing yet more “others” win so much must get under the (white) skins of the resentment class.
The annual National Spelling Bee took place this week at National Harbor, just outside Washington, DC. As usual, the 16 finalists included an overwhelming majority of young Americans of South Asian, East Asian, African, Hispanic, and even Islamic, descent. There was a Jewish kid or two thrown in the mix, and then one or two token “white bread” kids.
ESPN televised the final rounds, bringing glory to these youthful brain-iacs. Many are children of immigrants; some even immigrated here as youngsters themselves. Despite the handicap of an non-English native tongue in their nuclear families, these (mostly) darker skinned kids realized that hard work, focus on academics, and belief in self could result in greatness.
Astonishingly, the contest could only eliminate half of the finalists despite facing words that Donald Trump could never tweet with even half the correct letters. In the end, eight contestants shared the winner’s trophy. Seven were of Indian American descent, with names like Shruthika, Rishik, Sohum and Abhijay.
Meanwhile, I can only image how - throughout Donald Trump’s world - angry white people seethed. They had to watch yet more “skinny kid(s) with a funny name” (remember how Barack Obama described himself?) rise to the top.
White resentment of “others”, who look and live differently, is real. It exists not just among the struggling white working class, but among a larger white “resentment class” of all economic levels.
This group sees dark and/or different looking people as threats to our way of life. Their hatred and fear are documented frequently with the words and deeds of cretins like Rep. Steve King, who once opined that “Cultural suicide by demographic transformation must end.”
The National Spelling Bee is a microcosm of success of these “others” and a stark reminder that white privilege can’t always ensure success.
As CNN put it: Seven of the eight winners this year are of Indian descent. And no, they're not born great — they're made great through a culture that instills a drive for achievement and mastery of the English language.
What a contrast to the butchery of spelling and the English language represented by Donald Trump and his semi-literate followers.
The National Spelling Bee is a vivid example. But the resentment festering in a frightening portion of self-called “real Americans” (the “Make America Great Again” frauds), extends to a whole range of personal, academic, cultural and recreational arenas.
They hate that our sports world is dominated by persons of color – or foreigners – or sometimes both.
They hate that our Entertainment industry, with its confident women and men of color and multiple nationalities, is more diverse than ever.
They hate that immigrants come into “our country” and somehow begin owning businesses and becoming entrepreneurial sensations
They hate that LGBT people now enjoy protected legal status in the United States, and are allowed to marry whomever they love
They hate that women occupy a clear majority of enrollment in top colleges, and an ever-increasing share of executive positions.
To contradict James Carville, “it’s (not just) the economy stupid.” For so many, MAGA really means “Make America White Again.”