General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why all the hate towards Cornell West? [View all]cloudythescribbler
(2,586 posts)I would never use the term that Cornel West has used, but I do not reason about it the way you do.
First, I can see how -- despite his explanation, and his obvious (to me) sincerity in his explanation, and what I would infer to be his view that n-word derivatives mean something different when used by blacks (like Cornel West with a long and impressive record as a progressive thinker) -- some might take deep offense at the comment as you do. However, you further reason that in addition to using an inapt phrase, this comment not only completely negates his many decades as a progressive (I myself have been reading Cornel West for well over 20 years) and marks him overall as an "asshole" unworthy of serious dialogue, but further you use this particular moment, beyond absolutely dismissing any mitigating facts or approaches, to condemn ANYONE, including Bernie Sanders and by further extension Bernie Sanders' supporters, who does not share your view not only about the use of the word (which I can see myself) but about the person (Cornel West). You use political correctness, even if initially valid (which I am not trying to gainsay) as the broadest possible brush to condemn not just the action or the statement, but the person, and then anyone who associates with that person, and then anyone who supports someone who associates with that person (ie Sanderistas). This approach goes from the plausible to the ridiculous.
I myself have, since 1996, been on Social Security disability for crippling OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). In this disorder, I cannot shake the notion that something that touches something contaminated, and something that touches that, etc etc, is therefore also automatically contaminated, with various implications of necessary action. I understand fully (as you do not) that this approach is completely irrational, and yet the affect remains, and of course, the compulsions. This kind of reasoning in many ways exists in many political spheres, unfortunately, and your approach to a great progressive African American scholar and political activist of our time, who may indeed use an inapt phrase (inapt as it can stoke precisely the kind of extreme negative reaction that you have from many other progressives), and all his associations ad infinitem is a great example of that kind of logic
There are MANY reasons Hillary has run strongly among black voters against Bernie in this campaign -- remember that until not long before Iowa in 2008, for a long time while I was already strongly supporting Barack Obama for the nomination, Hillary was LEADING Obama among black voters by DOUBLE DIGITS in poll after poll. Finally, after Obama gained some traction and some very key & visible support, he was about tied among black voters in South Carolina by mid Dec 2007, which represented a great accomplishment. For reasons I stated in my original post, the Clinton presidency and the Clintons have long had positive and borad support in the black community. Bernie was until recently just "Bernie who?", as canvassers themselves were reporting from the field in this primary election cycle. I AM QUITE CONFIDENT THAT WIDESPREAD MASS HATRED IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY FOR CORNEL WEST AND ASSOCIATION OF BERNIE WITH HIM is NOT even dust in the balance in explaining the election results, and I think it is solipsistic of you (in other posts on this thread) to suggest that it is
I do NOT think Cornel West is an a-hole