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Racist dog whistle: the right wing has weaponized ‘DEI’ (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 7 months ago by jeffw@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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[-] Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world 53 points 7 months ago

This is the way things have always been. Use a word to classify something, and it'll be quickly turned into an insult and/or slur.

Words like "idiot" were originally medical terms used to describe those with mental illness or special needs. Then people started using it to insult people they didn't like. And every replacement quickly gets similar treatment. When I was growing up, the term "Mentally retarded" was the preferred and most common term to use. Then people hijacked it and turned it into a general-purpose insult. Today, the word "Special" is getting similar treatment. And whatever term will become the new acceptable term will get the same treatement in short order.

The same happens with race. Every classification of race eventually gets devolved and turned into a racial slur. And then when they start using a new term to describe them, the racists quickly turn that into a slur as well. This will be no different. Just like they did before, bigots have once again taken a general purpose term and turned it into an insult. And if it gets bad enough where people have to start renaming their DE&I departments and programs, whatever term is used to replace DE&! will be given the same treatment.

[-] jeffw@lemmy.world 39 points 7 months ago

A professor I had in undergrad once use the term “vernacular treadmill” to describe that process. It just keeps spinning and we have to update what we define as insulting as it becomes used that way.

[-] soba@lemmy.ca 19 points 7 months ago

Yep, first they used 'political correctness' then it was 'SJW', then 'virtue signaling', and now 'woke'. They're all trying to say the same thing; that people on the left don't actually believe the things they say but feel pressured to conform to... something? A media narrative? A desire to not be perceived as a total asshole? But we're all totally fakers.

They've been using woke for awhile now, I guess it's DEI's turn.

[-] rhombus@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago

It’s because there’s very little they truly believe in, so when they see people on the left have actual convictions they assume they’re liars just like themselves.

[-] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

They're all trying to say the same thing; that people on the left don't actually believe the things they say but feel pressured to conform to... something? A media narrative? A desire to not be perceived as a total asshole? But we're all totally fakers.

Every

Accusation

Admission

[-] itsnicodegallo@lemm.ee 15 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

"Euphemism Treadmill" on Wikipedia. Very interesting subject!

[-] jeffw@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

Quite possible that’s what he said or possible he misspoke by accident.

[-] solidgrue@lemmy.world 47 points 7 months ago

No! Ya think?

... Really??

[-] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Anti-DEI is a passing call of the ignorant. Successful leaders have known of the benefits of diversity, well before the recent DEI movement. Nothing will stagnate your team faster than a room full of people looking in the same direction.

[-] SpiceDealer@lemmy.world 41 points 7 months ago

Oh boy! It's "Cultural Marxism" all over again. I wonder if an incel somewhere is going to use this as a justification for committing mass murder, a la a certain Norwegian.

[-] Stern@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

DEI:PTSD::Cultural Marxism:Battle Fatigue::Political Correctness:Shell Shock

To borrow from ye olde SAT questions.

[-] DigitalTraveler42@lemmy.world 33 points 7 months ago

This should have been a no brainer once these idiots started calling the Baltimore Mayor the "DEI mayor".

These racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and anti-Semitic/islamophobic assholes are always looking for a new dog whistle to use or a new popular thing to corrupt, or even seemingly innocent things to corrupt.

Fuck Nazis and all of their allies and enablers.

[-] TheJims@lemmy.world 32 points 7 months ago

The racist dog whistle is now a racist air raid siren.

[-] BigMikeInAustin@lemmy.world 26 points 7 months ago

So Republicans are ok without wheelchair ramps being mandated, or wide doors, or handicap parking spots?

[-] BradleyUffner@lemmy.world 21 points 7 months ago

Yes. They actually really love complaining about those things "killing small businesses back in my home town"

[-] jeffw@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

I mean… to be fair, they got the W on that one. Obviously the ADA was bipartisan but Bush signed it into law

BUT inclusion is different when you can’t infantalize the disabled. Now we’re talking about able bodied people who they can’t write off as insert insult or slur for people with disabilities here

[-] Bobmighty@lemmy.world 17 points 7 months ago

The disabled community got that win. Bush was forcefed heaping piles of bad publicity by protesting disabled people. They worked damn hard to put that bill in front of him and apply the right kind of pressure to make sure he fucking signed. Sure, he took the win as the politicians always do but that win firmly belongs to the disabled community.

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[-] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 24 points 7 months ago

Nobody could have seen this coming. /s

[-] RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works 7 points 7 months ago

Someone should probably tell the so-called "DEI Mayor." I think it was actually just a bunch of racists using that term, not people who just thought we had a dedicated DEI professional on city staff to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion.

He will be so shocked to learn it was racism the whole time.

[-] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 23 points 7 months ago

Because 'woke' doesn't have the same feel anymore.

[-] Shyfer@ttrpg.network 19 points 7 months ago

Or the academic version: CRT (critical race theory). Remember when that was the rage among conservatives?

[-] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 16 points 7 months ago

It's like watching an addict keep going after harder and harder hits.

[-] mortemtyrannis@lemmy.ml 5 points 7 months ago

Before that it was cancel culture.

Before that it was virtue signalling.

[-] Blackmist@feddit.uk 18 points 7 months ago

It's not much of a dog whistle if everyone can hear it.

[-] SayJess@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 7 months ago

Don’t expect them to understand how to use a dog whistle properly.

[-] Wogi@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

The hatred has become mainstream again. They don't have to hide it anymore.

[-] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 10 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Republicans are always in search of ways to cause Democrats to cede ground. And Democrats keep falling for it because they love to surrender and call it compromise.

[-] umbrella@lemmy.ml 4 points 7 months ago

this sounded like the intention from the get go

[-] jaemo@sh.itjust.works 3 points 7 months ago

They need to get their own 3 letter acronym. I suggest DIE. Disorder, Ignorance and Exhaustion, since these seem to be their top 3 exports.

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this post was submitted on 21 Apr 2024

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