One of the words I have an issue with is "racism" and the use of the term "racist".
Until recently, the universally accepted dictionary
definition of racism has always been:
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others... an individual action or behavior based upon or fostering such a doctrine; racial discrimination. racial or ethnic prejudice or intolerance.
That's the definition that our society has used to determine if a person deserves to be labeled a "racist". There are very few words that are more damning and stigmatizing to label a person in our society than that. A person who is branded a racist is looked down upon and reviled by society (and rightly so) much in the same way that a rapist or pedophile is. A racist is an individual that harbors an irrational hatred, distain or feeling of superiority toward a person based entirely on the ethnic or racial group they belong to, which often results in discriminatory behavior toward them. It's choosing group identity to judge people, rather than judging them as individuals.
In recent years the definition of racism (along with a long list of other hate-based labels) has been bastardized by radical college professors and social justice warriors on the far left in 3 very specific ways.
1.
Expanding the definition: A person can now be labeled a racist for simply recognizing a person's race, for disagreeing with the opinion of a racial minority, for not siding with a minority in a dispute with a non-minority, for expressing a fact or truth that could reflect poorly towards a specific minority group, for opposing political legislation sponsored by the democratic party, for objecting to incidents of racial segregation, racial discrimination, or acts of racial preference.
2.
Expanding the consequences: When a person is publicly labeled a "racist", whether justified or not, it's now considered acceptable for activist groups, if they so choose, to threaten and/or target the person's home, work, bank, neighbors and family to enact or coerce acts of retribution. It's now common practice to infringe on their right to freedom of speech and take steps, sometimes including enacting violence, to prevent that individual from being able to give a public speech, including having their social media accounts banned.
3.
Group exemptions: People who harbor racial hatred and engage in racial discrimination are no longer universally considered to be racists. Now in 2022 if you embrace racial hatred and you engage in racial discrimination in America, you are no longer considered a racist or labeled as such if you're black, or a preferred racial minority. Only white people can be racist and everyone else is exempt.
The redefinition of racism isn't happening based on a societal shift in common language, it's being forced upon society by the far left in order to further their political agenda. They're manipulating it to be used as a weapon against their enemies, and at the same time to protect their support base. They watered down the meaning, but still apply the same full strength negative connotations the label carries, and exempted their core supporters so they can express racial hatred without fear of negative consequences. This all falls under the umbrella of "identity politics" and it WILL lead to the destruction of this country if it's allowed to continue.
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