How many times have you seen leftists call conservatives racists? Hurling false accusations of racism at their political opponents is a favored tactic of the social justice left. Though this method has lost a lot of its efficacy, they just won’t give it up. The old familiar story goes something like this: An individual expresses an opinion on race that conflicts with the left’s beliefs. Those on the left then quickly label that person a bigot. We see this story play out over and over again. It happens in several different areas of American society – but none more so than in the media.
News outlets and liberal pundits are notorious for portraying conservatives as bigots. By relying on false accusations of racism, they have destroyed any chance for healthy dialogue. Because of their liberal (pun intended) use of the word racist, they have all but stripped the word of its meaning. But why has the social justice left embraced this tactic? Put simply; it’s easier to win a debate if you discredit your opponent before any real discussion can begin.
When you dismiss individuals with whom you disagree as racists, you avoid having to engage with them on the issues. By convincing minorities that conservatives are racists, Democrats ensure that they win the votes of minorities. But here’s the rub: this strategy helps no one – especially not minorities.
When minorities are taught to believe that the people who disagree with them are racists, it increases their level of hostility towards whites. Likewise, when whites are falsely accused of racism, it increases their resentment towards minorities. In the end, the vicious cycle further exacerbates racial tensions.
As stated in part one of this series, the racism that came from slavery still exists. Some white Americans feel they are superior to other races because of the color of their skin. However, slavery-spawned racism is not the primary contributor to the racial tension we see today. Through their laser-like focus on victimhood, their constant false accusations of bigotry, and their fixation on white privilege, the social justice movement has produced a new racism. But the issue isn’t the social justice movement’s new racism. Now we must ask, what are we going to do about it?
How can we address this matter in a way that helps us alleviate racial tensions? The answer is not an easy one. The social justice left has gained much ground in the culture war. The left owns the news media and has a firm grip on our universities. Dire though the situation is, there are ways conservatives can subvert the social justice left’s efforts.
I believe we should focus on the tools we do have. It may seem as if the left owns all the platforms that can be used to communicate their message. However, that is not true. While the establishment media is still a dominant force, alternative forms of media exist. Previously, conservatives had talk radio and Fox News – but even this has changed. Conservatives can now distribute their content through podcasts, videos, news sites, and social media. Since the American public does not trust the establishment media as they used to, it is an excellent time for us to provide an alternative source of news.
We must use our resources to combat the lies of the social justice left. We must expose the flaws in their arguments – and we must do it effectively. Conservatives must show how the message of the social justice movement hurts minorities. When the left tells minorities they cannot succeed because of white privilege and racism; we must show them the many examples of those who have achieved success despite the obstacles. If social justice warriors want to focus on intersectionality and victimhood, conservatives should talk about the individual value of each American minority. When they call us bigots, we should allow them to look like fools. After all, their fixation on racism is one of the reasons Republicans won last year.
We must also choose our audiences carefully. We must focus on the people who can be convinced – not on the ones who have firmly entrenched themselves in social justice mythology. These are individuals who want to believe what they believe, and no rational arguments will sway them. Instead, we must target our message to those who are receptive to different perspectives – yes, they do exist! Conservatives must show these individuals how the ideas of the social justice movement hurt the people they claim to help. What it all boils down to is this: a destructive ideology is driving the social justice movement, and if we can show minorities the damage it has done to their communities, the left’s influence will decline.
When looking at the current state of race relations in the United States, it is easy to believe nothing can be done. Sometimes it might seem as if conservative ideas are falling on deaf ears – but this isn’t the case. When President Trump won the presidency, he received more of the black vote than Mitt Romney in 2012. He also did better with Hispanic voters. That may not seem like much, but when you consider how hard the left tried to paint the president as a racist, it is a significant accomplishment.
Refuting the social justice left on a larger scale will not be easy, but it is possible. Much of the American public has already rejected their ideas. The 2016 election is evidence that the social justice movement does not have as much power as it seems. If we are going to make a difference, we must take advantage of the opportunity we have been given.
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