Thread by @RAICESTEXAS

Big FYI to the media (and everyone else)👇🏽

Y’all should know better by now but with the #CoupAttempt we’ve seen far too many of these statements, so here’s an informational thread 🧵 on why this is problematic.

https://twitter.com/fernandotormos/status/1346954266838245379

1) The use of this term is not only outdated, but factually incorrect. Much like the use of “underdeveloped” countries.

“Underdevelopment isn’t a stage of development, it’s a consequence,” as Eduardo Galeano writes in his book, The Open Veins of Latin America -> a must read 📖

For 5 centuries European colonizers and U.S. corporations, have plundered the Global South’s abundant natural resources in order to extract & enrich “1st world” foreign interests AND fueling migration north due to economic and social/political violence in the south.

Here’s another example👇🏽
Eerily reminiscent of Trump’s “shithole countries” that he can’t tell apart.

Colombia hasn’t had a coup in 35 years. This is not the norm and yet, Bogotá was the first city @jaketapper could think of.

https://twitter.com/juanmabenitez/status/1346954240456073227

Ex-President George W. Bush called the #CapitolHill violence characteristic of "banana republics" and not the US.

This - again - is far from correct but not surprising.

https://twitter.com/acosta/status/1346955257818079239

Coups in these so-called “banana republics” have historically been planned & orchestrated by both Republican & Democratic admins in the 🇺🇸

OR

Revolutionary struggles have been led by the people, to fight off the disenfranchisement brought by colonialism & US/European meddling.

Ultimately, comparing the situation at the Capitol to something that would only happen in a “3rd world country" is 1️⃣ Racist
2️⃣ Undermines the valid reasons for civil unrest in these countries & completely disregards the magnitude of U.S. involvement.

So please: Don’t do it.