Democratic socialists earned some ridicule this weekend after video clips from their annual convention-which showed attendees objecting to clapping, disruptive chatter, and the use of gendered language on grounds that all of these things were triggering-appeared online.
At one point, a convention delegate interrupted another person's speech about "Defeating capitalism" to make a "Quick point of personal privilege." This delegate began by reminding the audience that he uses "He/him" pronouns, and then implored: "Guys please keep the chatter to a minimum," because he is "Very prone to sensory overload." Immediately after this plea, another attendee shot back with their own point of personal privilege: "Please do not use gendered language to address everyone." This person objected to the previous speaker's use of the word "Guys."
It is not at all uncommon to see the DSA sidetracked by infighting over unreasonable requests related to language and disability status.
In my book about modern activism-Panic Attack: Young Radicals in the Age of Trump-I describe how the DSA's Medicare-for-All campaign was criticized by the DSA's disability caucus, whose members claimed that they should have ultimate authority over issues pertaining to health and wellness.
Several dozen DSA members signed a petition demanding that she "Immediately remove herself from any involvement, official or unofficial, with DSA's Medicare for All campaign, and should she not, that she be removed." This was necessary, because intersectionality means casting suspicion on organizing efforts if these efforts do not make the marginalized the center of attention.
No one should come away from the coverage of the DSA convention with the idea that attendees did nothing but call-out each other's pronouns, though.
Listening to the livestream I heard heated discussions about significant policy issues: criminal justice reform, supporting the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders, and combating "Lex Luthor-esque scumbag Jeff Bezos." Of all the various factions of progressive activism, the DSA is by far the most organized, and the least likely to be derailed by culturally woke signaling.
https://reason.com/2019/08/05/at-the-democratic-socialists-of-america-convention-clapping-chatter-and-gendered-language-are-considered-triggering/
At one point, a convention delegate interrupted another person's speech about "Defeating capitalism" to make a "Quick point of personal privilege." This delegate began by reminding the audience that he uses "He/him" pronouns, and then implored: "Guys please keep the chatter to a minimum," because he is "Very prone to sensory overload." Immediately after this plea, another attendee shot back with their own point of personal privilege: "Please do not use gendered language to address everyone." This person objected to the previous speaker's use of the word "Guys."
It is not at all uncommon to see the DSA sidetracked by infighting over unreasonable requests related to language and disability status.
In my book about modern activism-Panic Attack: Young Radicals in the Age of Trump-I describe how the DSA's Medicare-for-All campaign was criticized by the DSA's disability caucus, whose members claimed that they should have ultimate authority over issues pertaining to health and wellness.
Several dozen DSA members signed a petition demanding that she "Immediately remove herself from any involvement, official or unofficial, with DSA's Medicare for All campaign, and should she not, that she be removed." This was necessary, because intersectionality means casting suspicion on organizing efforts if these efforts do not make the marginalized the center of attention.
No one should come away from the coverage of the DSA convention with the idea that attendees did nothing but call-out each other's pronouns, though.
Listening to the livestream I heard heated discussions about significant policy issues: criminal justice reform, supporting the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders, and combating "Lex Luthor-esque scumbag Jeff Bezos." Of all the various factions of progressive activism, the DSA is by far the most organized, and the least likely to be derailed by culturally woke signaling.
https://reason.com/2019/08/05/at-the-democratic-socialists-of-america-convention-clapping-chatter-and-gendered-language-are-considered-triggering/
No comments:
Post a Comment