Bawanas Comparing Mao to Hitler

G*rd*n gcf at panix.com
Mon Jun 7 06:59:35 PDT 1999


Charles Brown:
> "Racism" cannot be equated with the term "liar" as an
> unusable, unthinking insult, in left terminology. The
> criticism of racist is as important to left speech as
> the criticisms sexist or capitalist or imperialist. The
> terms "racism" and "racist" should be rolling off left
> tongues like "exploitative" and "oppressive".

However, it's often used so generically and so repeatedly as to lead the auditor to the conclusion that little but some kind of vague insult or expression of resentment is intended. This sort of rhetorical currency leads to the adoption of such slogans as "Affirmative Action is racist" by rightists, not cynically, but sincerely believing it to be the case.

Gordon



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