Will the Left Survive the Millennials?

[ericson00]

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/23/opinion/will-the-left-survive-the-millennials.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

Now the role of oppressor has passed to the left. In Australia, where I spoke, Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to do or say anything likely to “offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate,” providing alarming latitude in the restriction of free speech. It is Australia’s conservatives arguing for the amendment of this law.

As a lifelong Democratic voter, I’m dismayed by the radical left’s ever-growing list of dos and don’ts — by its impulse to control, to instill self-censorship as well as to promote real censorship, and to deploy sensitivity as an excuse to be brutally insensitive to any perceived enemy. There are many people who see these frenzies about cultural appropriation, trigger warnings, micro-aggressions and safe spaces as overtly crazy. The shrill tyranny of the left helps to push them toward Donald Trump.

Ironically, only fellow liberals will be cowed by terror of being branded a racist (a pejorative lobbed at me in recent days — one that, however groundless, tends to stick). But there’s still such a thing as a real bigot, and a real misogynist. In obsessing over micro-aggressions like the sin of uttering the commonplace Americanism “you guys” to mean “you all,” activists persecute fellow travelers who already care about equal rights.

definitely worth thinking about

[comradebillyboy]

1. Spot on!

[Act_of_Reparation]

2. Let's wait and see if it survives the Boomers and Gen Jones first. n/t

[liberalmuse]

9. Absolutely

I'm a bit skeptical of anyone from these two generations criticizing millennials, because at least millennials aren't a bunch selfish assholes. I'm gen jones, but have watched these two "ME" generations fuck this country up for decades. I'm not talking about the subgroups (of which our President is part, along with those here at DU) who have tried to steer this large plague of ravenous consumerist grasshoppers in the right direction for the past 50-some years.

I think if you look at the voting demographic (in terms of age) of who are voting for Trump as well as those who voted for Brexit, well, what do you know? They're still fucking up not only this country, but the entire planet. The millennials aren't the problem, but it is true we desperately need them as part of our subgroup to turn this mess around. Don't blame the millennials, in other words. They're better than those who came before them.

[tonyt53]

3. 100% with this one!

[NobodyHere]

4. Reminds me of the South Park episode

"The Death Camp of Tolerance"

[ericson00]

6. precisely;

and I really hope when Hillary is elected, she takes the initiative to stop our party from becoming the parody seen in South Park. I get that she can't attack them now because Bernie awakened the left flank of the party, but once she's in office, I would be happy to see some triangulation on things.

[leftynyc]

5. I'm sick to death

of those who seem to live to be outraged about something. It's like the only thing that gives their lives meaning. They need to realize that when you live in a multicultural society, you're going to get offended by something - suck it the fuck up and move on.

[tonyt53]

8. Life can, and does, hit people right between the eyes sometimes. Better be equipped to handle it.

[Albertoo]

11. Yup. Being offended has become a call for a pat on the back for being "pure".

Often the outrage is faked so that the person pretending to be offended can wallow in waves of support from other "righteous" -and equally easily offended- brethen.

[LeftyMom]

7. Oh for fuck's sake.

[ismnotwasm]

10. Oh for Gods Sake.

It it really so hard to think about and discuss gender and racial inequities? Does it really require this level of angst?

Yes the Left will "survive" millennials--in fact it will thrive, as many millennials are the product of a lot of hard work and activism both by anti-racists and feminists.

There are no good old days to go back to. The path is Forward, not straight as we used to say.

[GeorgeGist]

12. Clinton leads Trump 56%-20% among Americans ages 18 to 34;

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pr/2016/08/15/poll-finds-millennials-favor-clinton-over-trump-wide-margin/88757778/

[VulgarPoet]

13. Unrec.

Pure, absolute, handwringing garbage.

[Odin2005]

14. Oh look, another idiotic screed against mythical "SJW" boogeymen.