Thread by @adamfelber

Wow, Brit. Let’s look at this thread.

-“The organized left...” Ok, we’re starting with that. Demonizing reactions from the left. They’re not just reactions... they’re a cynical product of “the organized left!” Horrors! (1/x)

https://twitter.com/brithume/status/1038989543083524098

- “is lying.” So now, anything negative said is a lie, because it’s all part of the aforementioned “organized left.” Whereas to me, most of the reaction was opinion, not facts. Certainly not lies.

We’re four words in, and already two rhetorical atrocities. Can we not do better?

The real chicanery comes in the next bit. “Can you think of other institutions, such as marriage or military units in which the less people have in common, the more cohesive they are?”

Many have pointed out that there’s strong research on diversity. I want to go different way:

Here we’ve subtly substituted “diversity” for “things we don’t have in common.” And “strength” for “cohesion.”

Are these fair substitutions? I’d say “no.” If it were fair, Tucker would also be arguing that gay marriages are stronger than straight ones. Is he?

Uh... checkmate.

After all, wouldn’t two dudes, socialized and raised male, who are physically almost identical, have more “in common” than a man and a woman? And therefore have a more “cohesive,” and thus “stronger” family?

By Tucker’s reasoning: Yes. There is no room for doubt in that.

The next bit is a further detour into Bullshit City (pop. You and Tucker): “Do you get along better with your neighbors and coworkers if you can't understand each other, or share no common values?”

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy boys, we can’t let this pass...

Now the fact that we’re not the same color or gender has transmuted into WE CAN’T EVEN UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER. How the hell did THAT happen?

I’m married to a woman. Plus, I was raised Jewish and she was raised Christian. There is no lack of understanding that arises from that.

“Hey honey, can we pick up a Christmas tree tomorrow?”

“Wait, WHAT? Christmas? What’s that? Also, I can’t understand your values because there is some other kind of organ where your penis should be. I’M SURPRISED AND FRIGHTENED!”

That never fails to not happen in my house.

So is it fair to call this divisive chicanery “racism?” I think it’s debatable. But it’s for sure tailor-made FOR racists. Before you question the idea that “diversity is out strength,” let’s reword that phrase more honestly than Tucker did:

“E pluribus unum.”

You against that?

“Diversity is our strength.” Now let’s add context. That phrase offers hope to so many who have been historically shut out. It’s a rhetorical life raft. It says, “Mistakes aside, we believe we can expand the definition of “American” until any who believe in the idea can join.”

That idea doesn’t suck.

Now cut to some guy at home who was born before the Civil Rights Act. Whose parents were prevented from voting. Whose grandma wasn’t allowed to vote because she had the wrong genitals.

He turns on the TV, and Tucker Prepschool says, “Diversity is our STRENGTH? Hold on a sec...”

Christ! Maybe YOU can lawyer up and fight past the initial dishonesty & through to the bland point that we have to speak the same language and have common values. Not me.

Maybe you can pretend there’s no dog whistle here. But search the web. Look. The dogs HEARD that shit.

Honestly, when Tucker says “non-racist” stuff that gets celebrated by overt racists, how many times do you ignore it? At what point do you say, “Hey, buddy, maybe rephrase that shit so it’s a little less appealing to, like, Nazis?”

To quote an ex-president... How hard is that?

You want a “sickening distortion of his views?” Why don’t you Google “Tucker Carlson Storm Front,” and the first result will be actual Nazis discussing “Why we love Tucker Carlson.”

How about you call THAT shit out? And try to fix it.

Good day, sir.

I said GOOD DAY!