An excellent, thoughtful article. It raised many peoples' ire because it reveals the real motives of BLM: vengeance, hatred, division, and promoting its own self-serving brand of racist paranoia. In fact, some of the commenters explicitly pointed out that they support the boycott (and BLM) because it's an "eye for an eye." Using the same ideological tactics as MAGA and other ultra-right wing groups, BLM has succeeded in gaining a lot of attention by tapping into and manipulating the worst and most destructive emotions people have. Like most loud, angry, arrogant groups with no vision, they claim to represent their demographic, but the numbers you cite are sweeping proof of their irrelevence and the rejection of its racist methods and messages. The left and the right now resemble each other so closely I can barely tell them apart anyone. The only difference between them is who happens to be the object of their hatred. To demonize an entire group based on the shallowest of characteristics requires some powerful myth-making. First and foremost among these is that there is any such thing as "the white community." The idea of a cohesive "white culture" is so preposterous it's laughable--or it would be if it weren't used to create a straw target/bogeyman towards which to direct your cult members' rage. The other myth is that "white supremacy" exists everywhere, in every institution and organization, at all times. Not only is this expanded definition broadened to the point of meaninglessness, it does a grave disservice to the victims of actual white suprency, and it renders real white supremicists invisible and thus able to more readily hide and blend in to mainstream of society. Is that what we want? Furthermore, it creates an atmosphere of terror. Anyone not in lock step with the racist "anti-racist" ideology underpinning BLM can (and are) readily branded as white supremiscists and racists. It's circular logic at its worst. This is the America we live in, with its grossly simplistic characterizations of everyone as either angels or devils, public denunciations, absolute moral judgment of others based on immutable characteristics rather than individual traits and actions, andeven the mildest disagreement being shouted down heresay. Growing up, I never imagined that in the 21st century our culture would more closely resemble Europe in the Middle Ages run by terroristic theocracy, than an enlightened society with shared values of tolerance, compassion, forgiveness, kindness and celebration of diversity (rather than division based on arbitrary meaningless categories and stereotypes). I think it is still possible to find common ground, understanding, and respect for differences. But not unless we stand up to groups and ideologies like MAGA, BLM, and Christian conservatives who offer nothing but division, dischord and destruction, and who continuously attempt to usurp our shared values, collective goodwill, and attempts to build common ground with nothing more than paranoia based on crude and dehumanizing stereotypes. Thanks again for the great piece!
